North Dakota subcommittee advances amended HB1588, recommends against several other gun bills

A special subcommittee of the North Dakota Legislature’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 14 reviewed seven gun-related bills and recommended that House Bill 1588 be sent to the full committee with amendments while issuing do-not-pass recommendations on six other measures.

The subcommittee advanced House Bill 1588 with a recommendation of “due pass” for the amendments after discussion of proposed changes covering definitions, where political subdivisions may set local rules, campus authority, penalties and an officer’s ability to request proof of a concealed-carry license. Representative [First name not specified] Doctor moved the due-pass recommendation on the amendments and a second was recorded; the subcommittee registered affirmative voice responses from Chairman Heinert, Representative Doctor, Representative Haggart and Representative Conmee when polled.

The recommendation matters because HB1588 would change several state rules about weapons in publicly owned or operated buildings, clarify how schools and colleges are treated and alter penalties for violations. The subcommittee debated removing a statewide ban on local ordinances, clarifying that political subdivisions may adopt less restrictive rules, and explicitly authorizing the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education to promulgate campus rules for possession and use of weapons on campuses.

Most of the hearing focused on language edits and…