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House panel advances bill allowing Office of Inspector General enforcement officers to carry firearms
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee voted to refer House Bill 36 to the speaker after brief debate; the bill would authorize enforcement officers employed by the Office of Inspector General to carry firearms while on duty after completing firearms training and would take effect immediately.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to refer House Bill 36 to the speaker after members debated whether the Office of Inspector General should have armed enforcement officers.
Counsel told the committee that “House Bill 36 authorizes enforcement officers employed by the Office of Inspector General to carry firearms in the performance of their official duties after completing firearms training,” and that the bill would take effect immediately. Counsel also said there were no amendments to the bill.
Representative Borowicz opposed the bill on cultural grounds and criticized the inspector general’s hiring practices, saying, “while you were refusing and they're refusing to hire for competence and merit, instead, they use DEI.” He also said he would cast a “no” vote and criticized what he described as “this nonsense.”
Chairman Bridal moved the bill and Representative Raab seconded the motion; Representative Donna Hu was recorded as the second on the earlier motion. The chair asked to record Representative Borowicz in the negative and “everyone else in the affirmative,” and the committee referred the bill to the speaker.
The committee record shows the measure was considered without amendments and was forwarded to the speaker’s office for further action.
The referral means the full House will next decide whether to schedule the bill for floor consideration.
