On a divided voice vote, the Senate State Affairs Committee has approved HB 301, the concealed-carry bill, which revises and streamlines Idaho’s laws regarding concealed weapons permits, removes any requirements for permits outside city limits, and leaves as-is the current exemption from the permit law for elected officials. A motion to kill the bill was defeated; the committee then voted to send it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it “do pass.”

“I don’t think elected officials should be treated any differently,” said Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa. “But this bill doesn’t change existing law” on that matter.