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Senate votes to extend concealed-firearm permit renewals from two to five years with department implementation amendment
Summary
Senate substitute SB140 would extend concealed-weapon permit renewals from two years to five, aligning with the Brady Act maximum; the floor adopted a department-requested transition amendment to clarify which permits would be affected and debated training and background-check procedures.
Senators considered Senate Bill 140 Feb. 5, a bill to extend the term and renewal cycle for concealed-firearm permits from two to five years. Sponsor Senator Waddup said the change is consistent with the Brady Act and intended to reduce repeated background-check costs for permit holders while preserving the Department of Public Safety's ability to revoke permits if necessary.
Senators asked detailed questions about the qualification process, training requirements, background checks and whether renewal triggers another check. The sponsor described the application process: a multi-hour safety course, fingerprinting and a background check that can include FBI checks and fingerprint submissions; the department affirmed it can revoke permits if new disqualifying information arises.
A department-requested technical amendment established a cutoff date to make implementation manageable and avoid inadvertently shortening already-issued permits; that amendment passed on the floor. Supporters argued the five-year renewal would reduce administrative costs and unnecessary repeat checks; opponents worried that a longer window could allow a permit-holder's status to change without timely detection, though the department said renewal would involve background screening.
What happens next: With the amendment adopted on the floor to ease transition, SB140 was called for third reading; final enrollment language will determine specific implementation dates and administrative guidance to the Department of Public Safety.
