Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Ranges topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate rejects bill to open publicly funded shooting ranges to wider public use after liability debate
Summary
Senators voted down SB190, which would have allowed nonmilitary public access to some publicly funded ranges under written procedures and cost recovery; opponents cited liability, facility suitability, and local control.
Salt Lake City — The Utah Senate on Feb. 24 defeated Senate Bill 190, a measure to allow nonmilitary public use of certain publicly funded shooting ranges under written agency procedures and cost recovery. The final roll-call vote was 10 in favor, 17 opposed, with two senators absent.
Sponsor Sen. Mark Wright said the bill would let state agencies and municipalities allow groups such as hunter‑education programs and JROTC to use ranges during times that do not interfere with agency training. "We have 11,000 students every year that participate in hunter education, hunter safety programs," Wright said on the floor, noting the proposed rules would require reasonable terms and cost recovery.
Opponents, including the Utah League and several senators representing cities and counties, warned the bill would shift liability and management burdens to local governments. "The Utah League opposes this bill vigorously," said a representative speaking for municipal interests during floor remarks, arguing the measure would impose an enterprise business model and staffing, insurance and oversight obligations on municipalities.
Other senators raised practical concerns: many police ranges are designed for law-enforcement training and lack restrooms, ADA features or public-safety infrastructure expected for community use. Risk-management officials had flagged problems related to youth participation and waivers, senators said.
Senators who supported the measure argued that written procedures and cost recovery would permit cautious, supervised public access where appropriate and help youth groups who lack places to train. But the perceived liability and operational gaps convinced a majority to oppose the bill.
SB190 failed in the recorded vote; sponsors and opponents said they would continue working on targeted solutions for youth and community marksmanship programs outside this bill.
