Committee rejects bill to make concealed-handgun permits exclusively electronic

Representative Paul Childers, identified in the hearing as “Paul Children, state representative district 83,” asked the Senate committee to reconsider House Bill 1686, a proposal to make concealed-handgun permits electronic. The measure had failed the committee earlier in the session and the sponsor asked the committee to expunge that vote and advance the bill.

Lieutenant Tiffany Dicus, regulatory division, Arkansas State Police, told the committee the agency's intent was not to leave anyone behind and said the State Police would work to ensure constituents without smartphones or internet access could still obtain a usable license. “Our intent is certainly not to leave anyone behind as far as with the electronic licenses,” Lieutenant Dicus said. Captain Dustin Morgan of the Arkansas State Police added the agency would issue a paper copy on request and that the office recognizes citizens who cannot use digital formats.

State Police witnesses said the agency expects savings in printing and postage: since FY2021 they said the combined printing costs for concealed-handgun and private-investigator licenses were about $172,000 and postage about $150,000. Captain Morgan said while technology would reduce per-item production costs, the agency had not yet studied whether overall application fees could be reduced.

Several senators pressed the State Police on access guarantees and whether a reduced fee structure would follow if the printed card were removed; committee members also sought assurance that hard cards would remain available to those who need them. Senator Bryant, among others, said he was not comfortable without a statutory entitlement to a paper card for people who cannot use digital IDs. Despite assurances from State Police witnesses that the agency would assist citizens needing paper copies, the committee voted and the bill failed the committee during the hearing.

Provenance: Sponsor introduced the bill at the start of the item and State Police witnesses gave technical and fiscal testimony; the vote to fail is recorded in the transcript. Topic intro excerpt: “I brought a bill on March, house bill 16 86, and it's, it was a bill to make concealed handgun permits electronic.” Topic finish excerpt: “All those in favor, say aye. . . All opposed? Your bill fails, mister Chillers.”