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SB115Introduced in the Senate

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

Passed

Introduced by Stella Pekarsky, District 36

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. Provides that the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall determine whether other states meet 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 prevents a Virginia resident, except for an active duty service member or such service member's spouse, who has not been issued a valid resident concealed handgun permit from using a concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.The bill requires the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, 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 and qualifications of those states' laws are adequate to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth and revoke any reciprocity agreement or recognition of any states that do not meet such requirements or qualifications by December 1, 2026. The bill requires the Attorney General to provide a written explanation for any determination that a state's laws are adequate to prevent possession of such permit or license by persons who would be denied such permit in the Commonwealth.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

7 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · March 13, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100698D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Senate committee offered

  4. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

  5. Committee substitute printed 26106296D-S1

  6. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N)

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  10. Read second time

  11. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  12. Passed by for the day

  13. Read second time

  14. Floor offered Senator Pekarsky Amendment

  15. Senator Pekarsky Amendment withdrawn

  16. Finance and Appropriations Amendments agreed to

  17. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  18. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  19. Placed on Calendar

  20. Read first time

  21. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)

  23. Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms

  24. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)

  25. House subcommittee offered

  26. House committee offered

  27. Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

  28. Committee substitute printed 26108804D-H1

  29. Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

  30. House committee offered

  31. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  32. Committee substitute printed 26108978D-H2

  33. Read second time

  34. Read third time

  35. committee substitute rejected

  36. committee substitute agreed to

  37. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  38. Passed House with substitute (61-Y 34-N 0-A)

  39. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  40. House insisted on substitute

  41. House requested conference committee

  42. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  43. Conferees appointed by Senate

  44. Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Surovell, Sturtevant

  45. Conferees appointed by House

  46. House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Wilt

  47. Conference Report released

  48. Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 0-A)

  49. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  50. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)

  51. Enrolled

  52. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB115ER)

  53. Signed by President

  54. Signed by Speaker

  55. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  56. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  57. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)

  58. Approved by Governor-Chapter 879 (Effective 7/1/2027)

  59. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)

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