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Senate committee rejects Lamar bill letting counties require handgun carry permits
Summary
Sen. Lamar's S.B. 43 would have allowed county legislative bodies to pass resolutions requiring a handgun-carry permit within their county; after amendment and debate the committee recorded 6 no votes and 2 yes votes and the bill failed for lack of a constitutional majority.
Senator Lamar presented S.B. 43 to authorize county legislative bodies to adopt resolutions requiring handgun-carry permits within their counties. Lamar argued local option could help mitigate firearm deaths and noted that since the statewide permit system changed in 2019, "gun deaths have increased by 11 percent." He offered an amendment to change the effective date to July 1, 2026.
After debate the committee conducted a roll-call vote on S.B. 43 as amended. The clerk recorded six no votes and two yes votes, and Vice Chair Roberts announced the bill "fails for lack of a constitutional majority." Senator Lamar said the measure sought to give counties local discretion; opponents recorded a majority no vote and the bill did not advance.
