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House passes bill recodifying firearms code, extends open carry to some 18–20-year-olds
Summary
The Utah House on Feb. 3 passed HB 133, a recodification of state firearms law that clarifies landlord restrictions, creates several technical changes and allows 18–20-year-olds to open carry where permitless carry is legal; the bill passed 56–13 and heads to the Senate.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House passed House Bill 133, “Dangerous Weapons Amendments,” on Feb. 3, approving changes to state firearms code that backers described as technical clarifications and that expand where adults aged 18 to 20 may openly carry firearms. The bill passed the House 56–13 and will be sent to the Senate.
The bill rewrites portions of the firearms code and clarifies areas staff and sponsors said were inconsistent or unclear. Under HB 133, adults aged 18 to 20 would be permitted to open carry in places where permitless carry is already legal; the sponsor also said the bill clarifies that landlords may not prohibit an individual’s lawful possession of a firearm inside an individual’s residence.
Representative Lisonbee, the bill sponsor, said the legislation largely makes technical corrections to align statutory text with legislative intent and current case law. “Guns don't commit violence. People commit violence,” Lisonbee said in summation, arguing the bill will make the code easier for Utahns to read and understand.
Opponents and cautious lawmakers raised safety concerns about extending open carry permissions to younger adults. Representative Bennion pressed the sponsor on provisions that narrow criminal liability for providing firearms to minors and cited state-level gun death statistics and an estimated annual economic cost of gun violence in Utah. Bennion said, “Utah's gun rate increased 9% from 02/2013 to 02/2022, and our state has the eleventh highest gun death rate in the country. Gun violence costs Utahns approximately $4,800,000,000 annually.”
Representative Owens said the bill clarified several ambiguities but expressed concern about allowing open carry by 18- to 20-year-olds, noting that young adults account for a disproportionate share of homicides and elevated rates of suicidal ideation. “I think we could have a safer society without impairing our support for the Second Amendment,” Owens said.
The House voted 56–13 to pass HB 133. The clerk announced the tally and the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.
HB 133 was heard in the Criminal Code Recodification Subcommittee during the interim, the sponsor noted, and proponents said stakeholders had opportunities to comment prior to third-reading action.
The House debate and the final tally were recorded on the House floor; the bill will appear on the Senate calendar next for consideration.
