Proposed Virginia Firearm Legislation HB1797
Legislation Overview
Title: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
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 states meet the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from another 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 also provides that a Virginia resident who has not been issued a valid resident concealed handgun permit may not use a concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. 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.
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Last Action: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797)
Last Action Date: January 27, 2025
Sponsors
Note: the first sponsor listed is normally the primary sponsor. If a sponsor's name is a hyperlink you can click on it to 'follow the money'.
5 sponsors: Dan Helmer (D); Nadarius Clark (D); Rae Cousins (D); Alfonso Lopez (D); Adele McClure (D);
Percentage of House Of Delegates sponsoring bill: 5% (5 of 100)
History
| Chamber | Date | Action |
| House | Jan 27, 2025 | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797) |
| Senate | Jan 24, 2025 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| Senate | Jan 24, 2025 | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| House | Jan 23, 2025 | Read third time and passed House (49-Y 47-N) |
| House | Jan 22, 2025 | Public Safety Amendment agreed to |
| House | Jan 22, 2025 | Read second time |
| House | Jan 22, 2025 | Engrossed by House as amended |
| House | Jan 22, 2025 | Printed as engrossed 25100328D-E |
| House | Jan 21, 2025 | Read first time |
| House | Jan 18, 2025 | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1797) |
| House | Jan 17, 2025 | Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) |
| House | Jan 6, 2025 | Referred to Committee on Public Safety |
| House | Jan 6, 2025 | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100328D |
Texts
| Type | Date | State Link | Text |
| Engrossed | Jan 22, 2025 | state link | bill text |
| Introduced | Jan 6, 2025 | state link | bill text |
Amendments
| Title | Description | Date | State Link | Text | Adopted |
| Public Safety Amendment | Public Safety Amendment | Nov 30, -0001 | State Link | amendment text | No |
Votes - Click on description to view vote roll call
| Description | Vote Date | Yea Votes | Nay Votes | No Votes | Absent | Passed |
| Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) | 01/17/2025 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| Read third time and passed House (49-Y 47-N) | 01/23/2025 | 49 | 47 | 0 | 4 | Yes |
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Link: link to state bill page
