SB 30 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Allowing 18 to 20-year-olds to carry concealed weapon without permit

SB 30 (West Virginia) removes the requirement for 18- to 20-year-olds to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The bill repeals prior restrictions that mandated permits for this age group and explicitly states that individuals aged 18-20 may carry concealed deadly weapons without a license, except when prohibited by other laws. Key exceptions remain in place, such as for carrying on personal property, transporting unloaded firearms from purchase to home, or during lawful hunting. The law clarifies that 18-20-year-olds are not subject to the "carrying without a license" crime under specific circumstances. This directly affects young adults in West Virginia who wish to carry concealed weapons without state-issued permits.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the right for 18-20 year olds to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, while also adding new protections for minors under 18. The Committee Substitute version clarifies the bill's intent to repeal the crime of carrying a deadly weapon without a license for certain persons under 21, and adds a new section specifically addressing possession of deadly weapons by minors under 18 years of age.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only affecting persons aged 18-20 to also include new provisions governing minors under 18 years of age, creating a more comprehensive framework for firearm possession across different age groups.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the bill's description to clarify that it allows persons 18-20 years old to carry concealed deadly weapons without first obtaining a license, and repealed the crime of carrying a deadly weapon without a license for certain persons under 21 years of age.

SCOPE

Added new section §61-7-8 establishing specific prohibitions and exceptions for minors under 18 years of age regarding possession and carrying of deadly weapons, including provisions for hunting, target shooting, and family premises.

ENFORCEMENT

Added juvenile delinquency procedures for minors who violate the new possession restrictions, including specific penalties for first and subsequent offenses in juvenile detention centers.

REQUIREMENT

Modified §61-7-3 to repeal the existing penalties for persons under 21 carrying concealed deadly weapons without a license, effectively removing the prohibition for the 18-20 age group.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

32–1

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 10, 2026

D Democratic2

1 Yea 1 Nay

50% Nay

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 59)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors