# Virginia SB115: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

Virginia SB115, Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB115-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB115
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-05
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0879)
- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 15 (301 yes, 171 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. Provides that the Office of the Attorney General 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 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 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 Attorney General 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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia officers can use identification for reciprocity: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, eligible active-duty Virginia law-enforcement officers can use their official government-issued identification as a concealed handgun permit. This applies for permit-recognition agreements with other jurisdictions. Officers must be exempt under Virginia law from obtaining a…
- Virginia residents face out-of-state carry permit limits: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, Virginia residents without a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit cannot carry using another state's permit. This restriction does not apply to active-duty U.S. Armed Forces members or their spouses.
- Virginia sets conditions for out-of-state carry permits: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, Virginia recognizes valid out-of-state concealed handgun or weapon permits for holders age 21 or older. The issuing authority must provide instant permit checks 24 hours a day. Except for age and weapon type, the state's rules for keeping permits from disqualified people mus…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 33 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 61 | 34 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 5 |   |

## Actions (59)

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

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223044.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223043.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213767.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213766.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210451.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210448.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210447.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195018.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194912.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195017.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194911.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185487.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186324.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186323.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185486.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185175.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185178.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135308.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132122.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132121.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128841.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099238.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099237.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096388.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096387.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082905.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082904.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/1223044.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223043.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213767.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213766.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210451.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210448.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210447.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195018.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194912.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195017.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194911.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185487.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186324.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186323.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185486.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185175.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185178.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135308.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132122.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132121.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128841.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099238.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099237.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096388.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096387.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082905.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082904.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-SB115-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).