Legislation – 2024 Bills

2024 Gun Bills updated Saturday, 2 March

The 2024 Legislative session is over!
ALL ANTI-GUN BILLS WERE STOPPED.
TEN pro-gun (or gun neutral) bills were passed and are waiting for Gov. Cox's signature.

About 3 minor good or neutral bills passed by the House died before final passage in the Senate.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE LEGISLATORS WHO SUPPORTED GUN RIGHTS THIS YEAR!

See the list below for individual bills and their status.

YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.
Check the list below.

BILL DETAILS- Click on the bill number in the first column for full text and status. This opens the official state page with full text of the bill.

Requires a court to sentence individuals who use or possess a firearm while distributing drugs to an indeterminate prison term.
Passed House committee 7-2-3 on 1/18/2024. Passed House 58-13-4 on 1/24/2024.
Senate committee adopted a 1st Substitute version of the bill 1/31/2024, adding provisions for courts to weasel out of the mandatory sentence provisions.
Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee adopted 2nd Substitute and passed 7-0-5 on 2/12/2024.
Senate passed 28-0-1 on 2/27/2024.
Awaiting Governor's signature.

Part of a comprehensive school security updgrade which adds optional voluntary armed educator "Guardians" along with a long list of other school safety measures.
The "Guardian" program provisions require extra training and screening for those volunteering to participate in it, but they then are given full immunity for liability for their actions as part of the program.
NOTE- This program is for "school employees" but specifically EXCLUDES TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS OR OTHERS WHO ENGAGE IN CLASSROOM TEACHINGL
Educators with a Concealed Firearm Permit may still carry in schools for protection of themselves and their students WITHOUT being part of the Guardian program, but are not covered by the liability protection provisions.
1st Substitute version approved by House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee 9-0-3 on 2/1/2024.
Passed House 50-16-9 on 2/12/24.
Senate Education Committee passed 5-0-4 on 2/26/2024.

This is a 92 page bill with many complex provisions seemingly focused on setting up boards and committees, creating bureaucracy and programs to be administered, more than encouraging more school employees to be prepared to defend themselves and students. USSC prefers the simpler and more easily implemented provisions of HB 119 which is only two pages long, although that applies only to teachers. HB 119 has passed the Senate and is awaiting House concurrence with amendments.

Senate passed 27-0-2 on 2/28/2024 with amendments. House concurred with amendments, so bill has passed.
Awaiting signature by Governor Cox.

Imposes a 5 day waiting period after purchase before the gun can be delivered. "A right delayed is a right denied." Federal waiting periods started in 1968 ended when the "instant background checks" became possible. If passed, you can be sure that anti-gun folks will push to increase it from 5 days to much longer times, why not 30 days, or a year? TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
Undoubtedly this would be found Unconstitutional under the Bruen decision.
Defeated by House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee 1-9-1 on 2/9/2024.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

A typical "safe storage" scheme that sounds good but is aimed at the gun owner, not the person who takes someone else's guns.
"It's not the guns, it's the criminals!"
Will fine a gun owners $1,000 or $5,000 if their gun is taken without their permission, while doing nothing to the thief!
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
USSC supports safe storage of guns and ammunition as determined by each gun owners individual circumstances and common sense, not a one size fits all "safe storage" scheme for everyone.
This is as bad as fining a bank if a bank robber goes and buys illegal drugs. Hold the person committing crimes accountable, not the victim from whom they illegally took something!
Defeated by House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee 2-9-0 on 2/9/2024.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

Original was a good bill, a 1st substitute was a bad faith "bait and switch" attempt. The second substitute is an acceptable one requiring annual report on number of guns seized from prohibited persons, the types of guns, where the prohibited persons got the guns, and the reasons the person is on the prohibited list.
Second substitute adopted and approved by House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee 10-1-0 on 2/14/2024.
Passed by House 72-0-3 on 2/22/2024.
Passed Senate 24-0-5 on 3/1/2024.
Awaiting signature by Governor Cox.

Creates Educator-Protector Program to incentivize school teachers to responsibly secure or carry a firearm on school grounds by providing liability protection, and provide annual training.
This bill (HB 119) is a smaller program, specific to volunteer armed "Educator-Protector" program which is more easily understood and implemented than the complex provisions of HB 84 which creates a huge bureaucracy and more detailed requirements which may hinder implementation.
NOTE- This does NOT require CWP holders to participate in this program in order to continue to legally carry in schools.
USSC prefers this HB 119 version of armed educators better than the provisions in HB 84 above, but wither or both are good moves to protect our schools.
NOTE- HB 119 ONLY applies to teachers, and USSC would greatly prefer it to cover all school employees (administrators and staff and teachers). We will pursue that change in a future session if this is passed.
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee amended and passed 5-3-4 on 2/22/2024.
Passed by House 54-13-8 on 2/26/2024.
Senate substituted, amended and passed 19-6-4 on 2/28/2024 and House concurred with amendments.
Waiting for Governor Cox's signature.

Eliminates range fees on public owned ranges for active and retired police, firefighter and veterans.
Nice, but should be expanded to all Utahns who can lawfully possess a firearm instead of just a cops, firefighters and vets.
This reduces costs for select group, but does nothing to expand access to all public owned shooting ranges which is more important.
Approved 8-0-4 by House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee 2/12/2024.
Passed House 69-0-6 on 2/21/2024.
Passed Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee 6-0-2 on 2/22/2024.
Died awaiting action by full Senate at end of session.

This bill (by a Democrat who was 1 of 100 legislators who went to meet with Biden's White House Gun Control Office) is clearly a carefully worded effort to create data to justify "safe storage" laws by getting numbers for "stolen guns" to justify a pure gun control scheme. It does not bother to ask under what circumstances the guns were stolen, and more importantly, what, if anything was done to apprehend, prosecute and punish people who stole guns.
USSC suggests instead that we collect data on what is done to criminals who steal guns or otherwise obtain/attempt to obtain guns illegally, or use them in crimes, and any arrests, prosecution or punishment of the criminals.
House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee on 2/21/2024 did NOT vote to recommend passage (5-5-1), so the bill is basically dead for this session. There is a slim chance the committee may bring it up again for another vote at one of their next two meetings, but unlikely.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

This is a much better way to encourage "safe storage" than other proposals.
The SIXTH version of this bill was approved by House on 2/15/2024.
This allows a maximum of $50 as a one time only tax credit (non-refundable) for purchase of firearms safety devices.
Frankly the bookkeeping and tax filing busy work to claim the credit means few people will take advantage of it, so it will do little to improve firearms safe storage in Utah. But, it may do some good so USSC continues to support it, even though we would prefer to see it for a much higher amount, and available for all firearms safety devices a person may purchase, not a one time deal.
Passed House 42-26-7 on 2/15/2024.
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee considered the bill and voted 3-2-3 to move to next item on 2/21/2024.
Did not pass in Senate.

This is a massive bill, over 1400 lines long, fiddling with all sorts of minor details.
There is one good provision making it easier to apprehend people trying to illegally purchase a firearm, but there are numerous burdensome and worthless infringements, including sneaking in ammunition offense.
"Enactment of this legislation could result in a medium increase in the regulatory burden for Utah residents or businesses."
RECOMMEND DEFEAT THIS BILL AND RUN ANY GOOD PART SEPARATELY.
House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee on 2/7/2024 adopted a substitute bill, and USS has the same objections to it.
"Held" by committee on 2/7/2024.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

Proposes the the State Board of Education select and approve a vendor supplied curriculum and materials for a firearms safety course, supposedly to meet the requirements for Hunter Education certificate in a few schools they select. It has the potential to teach some good safety lessons, but USSC is concerned about exactly what vendor and curriculum material is to be selected by the State Board of Education which has a reputation for being hostile to firearms use and rights.
There are some restrictions on marksmanship training that are concerning.
The bill is under review.
Awaiting action by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

A lot of the worst anti-gun rights schemes stuffed into one stinking bill. Every aspect of it is totally unacceptable, especially these lowlights
** Bans "assault weapons and high capacity magazine" purchase or possession.
** Raises age to purchase long arms from 18 to 21. (Enlist in the army and they will give you a FULL AUTO real machine gun at 18!)
** Requires "universal background checks" in person at a FFL dealer location for private sales, with fees.
This must be defeated as soon as possible.
Awaiting action by House.
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

USSC supports safe storage of guns and ammunition as determined by each gun owners individual circumstances and common sense, not a one size fits all "safe storage" scheme for everyone.
This is a "jobs for lawyers" bill.
Awaiting hearing by Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
1/23/24 Committee pulled from agenda. There is a draft 1st Substitute prepared, which makes this bad bill even worse. It expands the "jobs for lawyers" content, and even absurdly recommends placing a trigger lock on a loaded gun! This must be stopped!
BOTH ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
DEAD FOR THIS SESSION

2024 Gun Bills updated Saturday, 2 March

The 2024 Legislative session is over!
ALL ANTI-GUN BILLS WERE STOPPED.
TEN pro-gun (or gun neutral) bills were passed and are waiting for Gov. Cox's signature.

About 3 minor good or neutral bills passed by the House died before final passage in the Senate.

See the list below for individual bills and their status.

YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.
Check the list below.

Bill Number

Bill Title

Bill Sponsor

USSC Position

USSC Comments/ Status

2024 Gun Bills updated Saturday, 2 March

The 2024 Legislative session is over! ALL ANTI-GUN BILLS WERE STOPPED. TEN pro-gun (or gun neutral) bills were passed and are waiting for Gov. Cox's signature.

About 3 minor good or neutral bills passed by the House died before final passage in the Senate.

See the list below for individual bills and their status.

YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian. Check the list below.

Bill Number

Bill Title

Bill Sponsor

USSC Position

USSC Comments/ Status

The 2024 Legislative session is over!
ALL ANTI-GUN BILLS WERE STOPPED.
TEN pro-gun (or gun neutral) bills were passed and are waiting for Gov. Cox's signature.

YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.
Check the list below.