Committee introduces measure to clarify right to carry on publicly owned property leased to private groups

Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-District 2, asked the House State Affairs Committee to introduce RS31959, a revising statute intended to clarify that people’s right to carry firearms on state-owned or political-subdivision property habitually open to the public will not be restricted solely because the property is leased, rented or provided by contract to a private person or organization.

“This legislation concerns the right to carry firearms on certain public property in the State of Idaho,” Hawkins said. He described the proposal as a “clean up” from a bill considered last year and said the language is intended to ensure that someone who regularly carries would not suddenly be prohibited from doing so because an event occurred at a normally public site.

The sponsor and members discussed specific sites and exceptions. Representative Green asked whether the bill would prevent event venues from banning firearms at concerts; Hawkins replied that the Ford Idaho Center had reviewed the language and believed it was not affected because, he said, it is not “habitually open to the public” and many of its events operate under contract.

Committee members raised questions about how the bill would interact with university policies and private events. Representative Achilles said he planned to vote against introducing the RS because “we've got some fundamental questions that we still don't understand here,” citing potential impacts on university and other public-space policies. Representative Mickelson asked whether the change would permit firearms at public school events; Hawkins replied the RS “would not affect” legal restrictions already in other sections of Idaho Code and that he would research specific campus policies if the RS proceeds. Representative Becker asked whether private events that serve alcohol and require the renter to provide security would still be able to restrict firearms; Hawkins said he would seek clarification if the committee moves forward.

The committee took a motion to introduce RS31959. Representative Alfieri moved the motion; it carried on a voice vote. Representative Achilles asked to be recorded voting no.

RS31959, as presented, would amend existing code language to remove certain prohibitions on carrying firearms on publicly owned property habitually open to the public when that property is leased or otherwise provided by contract to private parties. The RS sponsor said other statutory restrictions in Idaho Code would still apply.

No formal bill text was adopted in committee and members asked staff and the sponsor to collect follow-up information on how the RS would interact with university policies, school events, and private-event security agreements.

Votes at a glance: motion to introduce RS31959 — moved by Representative Alfieri; carried by voice vote; Representative Achilles recorded as voting no.