Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Panel advances bill to return some juvenile handgun cases to adult court after heated debate
Summary
The committee voted to advance HB 12‑49 (9–4), a bill that would make certain unlawful handgun carrying by 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds a direct‑file offense into adult court (school incidents or prior convictions). Prosecutors supported the change citing rising youth gun violence; public defenders and some lawmakers urged preserving judicial discretion.
A House Courts and Criminal Code Committee advanced legislation on April 8 that would return certain juvenile unlawful‑carrying‑of‑a‑handgun cases to automatic adult prosecution for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds under specified circumstances.
Representative Zimmerman, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure restores prior law that treats some school‑related or repeat unlawful handgun possession by minors as a Level 5 felony direct‑filed into adult court. He said the change is not intended to broadly remove rehabilitative options but to hold accountable youths who bring guns onto school…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
