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Judiciary panel adopts amendments and advances bill on concealed-carry rules, adds limited policy exceptions
Summary
The committee adopted sponsor amendments to House Bill 1588, which adjusts licensed-carry rules and clarifies policy exemptions for institutions including the state Board of Higher Education and certain public buildings. The bill passed the committee on a recorded vote with one recorded no.
The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted amendments and voted to advance House Bill 1588, a proposal that revises the state's license-to-carry provisions and clarifies where elected officials and certain public institutions may set policy restrictions.
Representative (sponsor) Heinert introduced the bill; committee discussion focused on technical cleanups and whether to restore exemptions for publicly owned and operated buildings and higher-education housing. The sponsor's amendment reinstated language allowing public, state-owned buildings and some higher-education housing to be expressly addressed in statute and removed an escalation of administrative fees that had been proposed in earlier drafts.
Committee debate touched on liability and exemptions. Senator Brownberger urged retention of an earlier section that would have expanded penalties tied to misuse of so-called binary triggers in firearms incidents; he said he opposed removing that penalty. The committee's sponsor explained changes were largely technical and aimed to align policy language with current agency practice.
The committee adopted the printed amendment (labeled 02/2005 in committee materials). The motion to adopt amendments was moved by Senator Murdoch and seconded by Senator Lewick and passed by voice vote. A subsequent motion to give the amended bill a do-pass recommendation was moved by Senator Bridal and seconded by Senator Lewick; that motion carried on a roll-call vote. Recorded votes show Senator Brownberger voting "No" while Senators Luke, Paulson, Castaneda, Cory, Bridal and Chair Larson voted "Aye." The chair announced "motion carries."
Senators asked about adding the governor and retired judges to a carve-out allowing certain elected officials to meet handgun training standards; the sponsor said the change reflected concerns about threats to elected officials and that the governor already has constitutional-carry authority and state trooper protection. Committee members also discussed removing an unnecessary liability exemption for private entities, a change explained by a representative for the National Rifle Association who said the law already shields organizations absent negligence.
With the committee vote recorded, House Bill 1588 will move to the next step in the chamber's process; the sponsor and committee indicated technical language will be refined before floor consideration.
