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House clarifies concealed-weapon definitions and unanimously passes SB 18
Summary
After floor questioning focused on the definitions of "dangerous" and "concealed dangerous weapon," representatives adopted clarifying amendments about intent and the time of the offense; SB 18 passed the House 72–0 and will return to the Senate for signature.
Salt Lake City — The House unanimously approved Senate Bill 18 on Feb. 7 after debate and amendment to clarify statutory language about dangerous and concealed dangerous weapons.
Sponsor and supporters described SB 18 as the product of a weapons task force and said the bill reorganizes and clarifies code definitions (for example, what constitutes a "dangerous weapon" and when an item is considered "concealed"). Law-enforcement representatives and task-force members participated in drafting, according to floor remarks.
Members pressed sponsors on scenarios involving knives and multi-tools, asking whether ordinary tools or small blades could be swept into a criminal definition. Representative Howard proposed inserting language to clarify that a dangerous weapon must be evaluated "at the time of the offense" and with regard to the "intended use by the individual charged." Sponsors and other members supported those clarifying amendments, saying they would reduce confusion and avoid unintended overreach.
After adoption of the clarifying language, the House recorded a unanimous vote in favor of SB 18 (72 yes, 0 no), and the bill was returned to the Senate for signature.
Attribution: Sponsor remarks, question-and-answer exchanges, and the recorded unanimous vote are drawn from Feb. 7 floor debate.
