Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Firearms Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves third-substitute House Bill 60 to allow permitless carry with failed sunset amendment
Summary
The Utah Senate passed the third substitute of House Bill 60, which moves Utah toward permitless carrying of firearms while proponents urged greater voluntary safety training. An amendment to sunset the change after five years failed on a recorded vote before the bill passed on final roll call.
The Utah Senate on the floor approved the third substitute of House Bill 60, a measure that removes the existing concealed-carry permit requirement for most lawful adults while sponsors said they will promote training and suicide-prevention programs to support public safety.
Sponsor remarks framed the bill as narrow and practical. "It allows you to put a jacket over your gun," the sponsor said in floor remarks as he described the bill's limited effect compared with public perceptions and noted training attendance had risen in states with permitless carry.
Why it matters: Supporters argued the bill aligns Utah with other states and reduces administrative barriers for law-abiding residents, while opponents warned it removes an additional background-check and training gateway and could increase the number of firearms visible in public.
Amendment attempt and debate: Senator Escamilla offered Amendment 1, a five‑year sunset that would have placed a review date of January 1, 2026, to allow a later Legislature to reassess the policy. Escamilla framed the amendment as an accountability measure: "a 5 year sunset provision…which allows the legislative session of that year to review that and have a chance to respond if there are negative impacts," she said.
Supporters of the bill opposed the sunset amendment, warning it could remove long-term funding or introduce instability. The amendment was placed to a recorded vote and failed.
Final action and votes: After debate and the failed sunset amendment, the Senate took a roll-call vote and the third substitute of House Bill 60 passed on the floor. The motion to adopt the final substitute and advance the bill carried on a recorded roll call; the transcript records a full roll call in which the question was put and the bill was passed.
What happens next: The bill will proceed according to legislative rules (third reading and enrollment steps as required) and, if enacted, the statutory change will be implemented as written unless further amendments are adopted later in the process.
Attribution: Quotations and positions in this article are drawn from floor remarks recorded in the session transcript and attributed to the speakers as they are identified in the record.
