Committee advances bill allowing retired law-enforcement instructors to teach enhanced concealed-carry legal instruction

Representative Charlie Shepherd, appearing before a House committee chaired by Chairman Crane, presented House Bill 48 and the panel voted to send the bill to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation.

The bill would allow retired law-enforcement instructors to continue teaching the legal portion of the state's enhanced concealed-weapon permit course after they leave active service. Supporters told the committee that retired instructors bring operational experience about use-of-force incidents and post-incident consequences that can improve civilian understanding of lethal-force risks.

Shepherd told the committee House Bill 48 "gives the ability for retired law enforcement instructors to continue instructing after they no longer work for a department." He framed the bill as a correction to what he described as an oversight in current law and said it responds to a statewide need for qualified instructors for enhanced concealed-carry training.

Amy Georges, who identified herself as co-owner of American Freedom Defense, described how the enhanced CWP (concealed weapon permit) certificate used in Idaho separates a firearms-training component dictated by Idaho Code from a required legal-instruction component. "It does say that it has to be in person and it does say that it has to be by an active senior member of the state bar or an Idaho peace officer with an intermediate or advanced certificate," Georges said, adding that local sheriffs currently have discretion and apply the requirement inconsistently across the state.

A retired instructor who identified himself as Jim said he still holds an Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training instructor certificate and described how retired officers can convey the emotional and legal aftermath of use-of-force incidents. "The experienced law enforcement officer can relay what that feels like ... and the after the incident is extremely important," he said.

Representative Achilles moved to send House Bill 48 to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation; the motion carried on a voice vote. The committee recorded no negative testimony during the hearing.

If enacted, the bill would clarify that retired, certified law-enforcement instructors may provide the required in-person legal instruction for enhanced concealed-weapon permits; the transcript and witnesses highlighted that some sheriff's offices currently require instructors be actively employed, while others accept previously earned certificates. The bill advanced without amendments and with no recorded opposition in committee.