# Virginia HB1797: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

Virginia HB1797, Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (House sustained Governor's veto) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1797-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1797
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-04-02, House sustained Governor's veto
- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (192 yes, 127 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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, 2026.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, 2025, 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, 2025. 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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-18 | House | Senate Amendment agreed to by House | pass | 51 | 45 |   |
| 2025-02-14 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 21 | 14 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 49 | 47 |   |
| 2025-01-17 | House | Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) | pass | 12 | 10 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2025-04-02: House sustained Governor's veto (House)
- 2025-03-24: Vetoed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-03-05: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-05: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 5, 2025 (House)
- 2025-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797) (House)
- 2025-02-23: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1797ER) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-02-20: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-18: Senate Amendment agreed to by House (51-Y 45-N) (House)
- 2025-02-14: Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 14-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797) (House)
- 2025-01-24: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Read third time and passed House (49-Y 47-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Printed as engrossed 25100328D-E (House)
- 2025-01-22: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2025-01-22: Public Safety Amendment agreed to (House)
- 2025-01-22: Read second time (House)
- 2025-01-21: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797) (House)
- 2025-01-17: Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100328D (House)

## Bill text

- Veto Explanation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073183.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060022.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060021.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053207.HTML)
- Amendment, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050523.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050072.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023686.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023685.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022086.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013030.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013029.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073183.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060022.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060021.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053207.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050523.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050072.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023686.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023685.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022086.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013030.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013029.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1797-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).