# Virginia HB916: Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence, effective clause. Virginia HB916, Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence, effective clause., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0438)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB916-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB916 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence, effective clause. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0438) - Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 13 (258 yes, 79 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence. Adds a handgun shooting class or course that teaches (i) efficient, effective, and responsible use of a concealed handgun for self-defense outside of the home; (ii) state laws pertaining to handguns; and (iii) proper handgun storage techniques to those programs that satisfy the demonstration of competence requirement for the issuance of a Virginia resident or nonresident concealed handgun permit. The bill removes the requirement that such a training course must be conducted by the National Rifle Association or the United States Concealed Carry Association. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New permit rules for Virginia residents: mixed, low. These changes take effect only upon reenactment by the 2027 General Assembly. The law provides five-year concealed handgun permits for eligible Virginia residents age 21 or older, with no minimum local residency period. Applicants must show handgun competence in person through an accepted method. A… - New Virginia permit rules for nonresidents: mixed, low. These changes take effect only upon reenactment by the 2027 General Assembly. Nonresidents age 21 or older applying for a Virginia concealed handgun permit must show handgun competence in person. A qualifying shooting course must cover self-defense carry outside the home, state handgun laws, and pr… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-11 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 72 | 27 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Motion to rerefer to Finance and Appropriations agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 9 | 6 | | | 2026-02-12 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 81 | 16 | | | 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 19 | 3 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 3 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0438) (Governor) - 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor - Chapter 438 (effective - see bill) (Governor) - 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB916) (House) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB916ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Senate substitute agreed to by House (72-Y 27-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB916) (House) - 2026-03-10: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Committee substitute printed 26109383D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Motion to rerefer to Finance and Appropriations agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House (81-Y 16-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-11: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2026-02-10: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB916) (House) - 2026-02-06: Reported from Public Safety (19-Y 3-N) (House) - 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N) (House) - 2026-02-03: Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102206D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217875.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217874.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212236.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212235.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197572.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197571.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190909.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187691.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086437.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086436.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217875.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217874.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212236.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212235.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197572.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197571.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190909.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187691.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086437.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086436.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB916-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).