SB115 • 2026

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

Budget

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Pekarsky
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

What This Bill Does

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
Provides that the Superintendent of State Police shall determine whether other states' concealed handgun permit requirements are substantially similar to the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from such other state.
Under current law, any out-of-state permit is recognized in the Commonwealth, provided that (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state accessible 24 hours a day, (ii) the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S.
Department of Defense or U.S.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB115AC

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report

Plain English: JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on Senate Bill No.

JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on Senate Bill No.
115 , report as follows: A.
We recommend that the House Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26108978D) be rejected.
B.

SB115AHC1

2026-02-26

Public Safety Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 2/26/2026 SB 115 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.

OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 2/26/2026 SB 115 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.
Line 49, engrossed, after as of strike July insert December SUBCOMMITTEE 2.
Line 54, engrossed, after by strike December 1, 2026 insert July 1, 2027 SUBCOMMITTEE 3.
Line 59, engrossed, after on strike July insert December

SB115AHC2

2026-02-26 • Committee

Firearms Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: 2/26/2026 SB 115 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.

2/26/2026 SB 115 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.
Line 49, engrossed, after as of strike July insert December SUBCOMMITTEE 2.
Line 54, engrossed, after by strike December 1, 2026 insert July 1, 2027 SUBCOMMITTEE 3.
Line 59, engrossed, after on strike July insert December

SB115AS1

2026-02-05 • Committee

Finance and Appropriations Amendment

Plain English: 2/05/2026 (SB115) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS 1.

2/05/2026 (SB115) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS 1.
Line 21, substitute, after article.
The strike the remainder of line 21 and through General on line 22 insert Department of State Police FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS 2.
Line 47, substitute, after That the strike Office of the Attorney General insert Department of State Police (the Department) FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS 3.

SB115AS2

2026-02-09 • Member

Senator Pekarsky Amendment

Plain English: 2/09/2026 SB 115 SEN.

2/09/2026 SB 115 SEN.
PEKARSKY [ WITHDRAWN ] 1.
Line 22, substitute, after determine and insert the Department of State Police shall

SB115S2

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26109836D SENATE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26109836D SENATE BILL NO.
115 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 13, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Pekarsky) A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 18.2-308.014 .

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 879 (Effective 7/1/2027)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)
2026-04-01 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
2026-03-31 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-30 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB115ER)
2026-03-23 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
2026-03-13 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-13 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-13 House
Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-03-13 Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Surovell, Sturtevant
2026-03-12 Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-12 House
Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-12 House
House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Wilt
2026-03-11 House
House insisted on substitute
2026-03-11 House
House requested conference committee
2026-03-10 Senate
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 House
Read third time
2026-03-09 House
committee substitute rejected
2026-03-09 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-03-09 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-03-09 House
Passed House with substitute (61-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 House
Read second time
2026-03-04 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
2026-03-04 House
House committee offered
2026-03-04 Appropriations
Committee substitute printed 26108978D-H2
2026-03-01 Transportation & Public Safety
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
2026-02-27 Public Safety
Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-27 House
House committee offered
2026-02-27 Public Safety
Committee substitute printed 26108804D-H1
2026-02-26 Firearms
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
2026-02-26 Firearms
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-17 Firearms
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-02-16 Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
2026-02-13 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-13 Public Safety
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-02-13 House
Read first time
2026-02-10 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-09 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-09 Senate
Senator Pekarsky Amendment withdrawn
2026-02-09 Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09 Finance and Appropriations
Finance and Appropriations Amendments agreed to
2026-02-09 Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09 Senate
Floor offered
2026-02-06 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-06 Courts of Justice
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-02-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-05 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-05 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-04 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-28 Courts of Justice
Committee substitute printed 26106296D-S1
2026-01-26 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
2026-01-26 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-01-05 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100698D
2026-01-05 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
Provides that the Superintendent of State Police shall determine whether other states' concealed handgun permit requirements are substantially similar to the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from such other state. Under current law, any out-of-state permit is recognized in the Commonwealth, provided that (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state accessible 24 hours a day, (ii) the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State and displays the permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer, and (iii) the permit or license holder has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked. The bill exempts an active duty service member or such service member's spouse from the requirements of the bill. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
The bill also directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to review any agreements for reciprocal recognition that are in place with any other states as of July 1, 2026, to determine whether the requirements of those states' laws are substantially similar to the Commonwealth's concealed carry permit requirements and revoke any reciprocity agreement or recognition of any states that do not meet such requirements by December 1, 2026. The bill requires the Department to provide a written explanation for any determination that a state's laws are substantially similar to the requirements of the bill to prevent possession of such permit or license by persons who would be denied such permit in the Commonwealth.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
18.2-308.014
of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
18.2-308.014
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
18.2-308.014
. Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity.
A. A valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state shall authorize the holder of such permit or license who is at least 21 years of age to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth, provided
that
(i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state
,
accessible 24 hours a day
if available;
and
(ii)
the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State and displays the permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer; and (iii) the permit or license holder has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked
except for the age of the permit or license holder and the type of weapon authorized to be carried, the requirements and qualifications of that state's law are substantially similar to the requirements provided in this article to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth under this article
.
The Office of the Attorney General shall determine, and the Department of State Police shall publish on its website, any state that meets the requirements and qualifications of this subsection.
The Superintendent of State Police shall
enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with such other states that require an agreement to be in place before such state will recognize a Virginia concealed handgun permit as valid in such state. The Attorney General shall provide the Superintendent with any legal assistance or advice necessary for the Superintendent to perform his duties set forth in this subsection. If the Superintendent determines that another state requires that an agreement for reciprocal recognition be executed by the Attorney General or otherwise formally approved by the Attorney General as a condition of such other state's entering into an agreement for reciprocal recognition, the Attorney General shall (a) execute such agreement or otherwise formally approve such agreement and (b) return to the Superintendent the executed agreement or, in a form deemed acceptable by such other state, documentation of his formal approval of such agreement within 30 days after the Superintendent notifies the Attorney General, in writing, that he is required to execute or otherwise formally approve such agreement
(a) maintain a registry of such states on the Virginia Criminal Information Network and (b) make the registry available to law-enforcement officers for investigative purposes. The Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Attorney General, may also enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with any state qualifying for recognition under this subsection
.
B. For the purposes of participation in concealed handgun reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions, the official government-issued law-enforcement identification card issued to an active-duty law-enforcement officer in the Commonwealth who is exempt from obtaining a concealed handgun permit under this article shall be deemed a concealed handgun permit.
C. A Virginia resident who has not been issued a valid concealed handgun permit pursuant to §
18.2-308.02
shall not use a concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an active duty service member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of such active duty service member.
2. That the Office of the Attorney General shall review any agreements for reciprocal recognition that are in place with any other states pursuant to §
18.2-308.014
of the Code of Virginia as of July 1, 2026, to determine whether the requirements and qualifications of those states' laws are substantially similar to the requirements under Article 6.1 (§
18.2-307.1
et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth as required by §
18.2-308.014
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, and revoke any reciprocity agreement or recognition of any states that do not meet such requirements or qualifications by December 1, 2026. The Attorney General shall provide a written explanation for any determination that a state's laws are substantially similar to the requirements of Article 6.1 of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia to prevent possession of such permit or license by persons who would be denied such permit in the Commonwealth.
3. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2027.