Concealed Carry Law Changes: What Changed, State by State
Carry law changes faster than most reciprocity charts are updated — including the states' own. This log lists each change we have verified on the statute, enrolled bill, or issuing agency, with the date it took effect. Every state page and every permit-pair answer on this site already reflects these changes.
Coming up
Virginia · takes effect July 1, 2027
Virginia bans public carry of "assault firearms" statewide, with no permit exemption
Today, carrying certain loaded semi-automatic firearms with magazines over 20 rounds, or shotguns holding more than 7 rounds, in public is banned only in listed Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads localities, and concealed handgun permit holders are exempt. From July 1, 2027, the ban applies in every public place in Virginia and the permit-holder exemption ends.
Virginia narrows reciprocity to "substantially similar" states (SB 115)
From July 1, 2027, Virginia will honor only permits from states the Attorney General finds substantially similar to Virginia's standards, and Virginia residents will no longer be able to carry on an out-of-state permit. The act also directs the Attorney General to revoke recognition of non-qualifying states by December 1, 2026. Until then, Virginia still honors every state's permit for holders 21 and older.
Kentucky creates a provisional carry license for ages 18-20 (HB 312)
Kentucky State Police now issue a provisional concealed-carry license to residents aged 18 to 20. It is valid throughout Kentucky until the holder turns 21; recognition by other states is not established.
Wyoming lowered the age in W.S. 6-8-104(b)(ii) from 21 to 18. Because permitless carry borrows that criterion, any US resident 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm can now carry concealed without a permit.
Florida issues concealed weapon licenses from age 18 (Eubanks v. State)
After a Florida appeals court held the under-21 licensing bar unconstitutional, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced it will issue concealed weapon licenses to otherwise-eligible applicants 18 and older. Florida's permitless-carry age has not been officially updated.
West Virginia permitless carry now starts at 18 (HB 4106)
Any US citizen or legal resident aged 18 or older who may legally possess a firearm can carry concealed in West Virginia without a license, residents and visitors alike. Out-of-state permits are still honored only for holders 21 and older.
California must issue carry licenses to non-residents (AB 1078)
Penal Code § 26150(b) now requires a county sheriff to issue a carry license to a qualified non-California resident aged 21 or older who applies in the county where they mainly intend to travel, completes the training and live-fire qualification, and lists each firearm to be carried.
Florida open carry allowed after McDaniels v. State
A Florida appeals court struck down the state's open-carry ban, and the Attorney General told police and prosecutors the ruling binds all trial courts and should not be enforced. Law-abiding adults may now carry openly without a license. The ban is still printed in the statutes, so the change rests on the court decision.
Texas recognizes every state's carry license (SB 706)
Texas Government Code 411.173(b) now recognizes a valid handgun license issued by any other state, including the District of Columbia, with no residency or permit-type condition. Licenses from Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Wisconsin and DC, which Texas previously did not honor, are now valid there. The DPS reciprocity chart has not been updated; the statute controls.
After the US Supreme Court declined to review Worth v. Jacobson, which struck down the age-21 requirement, Minnesota sheriffs issue permits to carry to otherwise-qualified applicants aged 18 to 20. The statute's text still says 21.