Subcommittee advances SB 115 to Appropriations after debate on concealed‑carry reciprocity (7–3)

The House Public Safety subcommittee voted to report Senate Bill 115, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations on a 7–3 vote after public testimony and a technical amendment session.

Delegate Helmer presented SB 115, saying the bill "will only issue concealed handgun permits reciprocally to those states that meet the standards that have been set forth by Virginia," and described the proposal as restoring the pre‑2017 status quo under which Virginia recognized out‑of‑state permits only from jurisdictions that met Virginia's minimum standards.

Proponents testified that out‑of‑state applicants should meet Virginia's statutory requirements. Laurie Haas of the Center for Gun Violence Solutions said, "I believe that persons from out of state ought to meet our standards, the standards that Virginia has set forth in the code." Andrew Goddard of the Virginia Center for Public Safety told the committee that carrying a concealed handgun is "a regulated privilege" and argued against recognizing permits from states that would not qualify an applicant for a Virginia permit.

Opponents, including Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League and others participating online, said the change would be "going in the wrong direction," could reduce Virginians' ability to carry in other states and impinge on what they described as constitutional protections. James Hemmings, a Fairfax resident, argued the change would be unconstitutional, referencing federal court decisions on firearm rights.

Committee counsel described three short line amendments that shift multiple effective dates from July to December, putting the first effective date at 12/01/2026 and changing another to 07/01/2027; counsel said those changes affect the fiscal impact statement. Delegate Oates noted a fiscal impact on the subcommittee form of $206,682 yearly through 2031, totaling $1,000,033 over the period shown. Counsel confirmed the amendments and the Chair then accepted a motion to report and refer the bill to Appropriations; the motion passed 7–3.

The transcript records questions about whether Virginia maintains crime‑data fields identifying whether an offender was a concealed‑handgun permit (CCP) holder. Todd Garrett of the Virginia State Police said he did not have an answer immediately but would research it; advocates said prior searches had been told such records are not kept.

SB 115 now moves to the Committee on Appropriations for further review.