IdahoIdaho law restricts local firearm rules and sets penalties
Idaho law limits local firearm rules, sets penalties for knowing and willful violations, and lets affected people seek court relief after notice.
What it does
Idaho law bars local governments from regulating firearms or ammunition unless state law allows it. Counties and cities may regulate firearm discharge, with different exceptions for each.
A local government that knowingly and willfully breaks these rules faces a $10,000 civil penalty for each violation.
The attorney general or an affected person or group may ask a court to stop an unlawful local rule or award damages. People and groups must first give notice and allow time to investigate and fix the violation.
Argument forPeople harmed by a local rule that violates state law could ask a court to stop it or award damages, which may help end the rule.
Argument againstLocal governments could have less room to address local firearm concerns because most local rules about firearms and ammunition are barred.
More detail
Idaho law bars local governments from adopting or enforcing rules about firearms and ammunition unless state law allows them. The rule covers counties, cities, agencies, boards, and other local government bodies. It applies to rules about firearm sales, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, ammunition, and related matters. Counties and cities may regulate firearm discharge within their boundaries. County rules cannot affect lawful self-defense, hunting, certain safe firing on private or public land, or lawful use of a shooting range; city rules cannot affect lawful self-defense or lawful use of a shooting range. The law preserves state wildlife rules and local authority over the location and construction of shooting ranges. The law took effect when passed and approved on April 2, 2026.
A local government that knowingly and willfully violates the law is subject to a $10,000 civil penalty for each violation. This applies to counties, cities, agencies, boards, and other local government bodies in Idaho. The violation must be both knowing and willful. The penalty applies to each violation.
The attorney general or an affected person or organization may bring a court case seeking damages, a court declaration, or a permanent order stopping the rule. The attorney general may bring a case. A person or organization may do so if its members are adversely affected by a local rule that violates the law. A person or organization may file if its members are adversely affected by a rule that violates the law. Before filing, it must give written notice to the attorney general. The attorney general has 30 days to investigate. If a violation is found, the local government has 30 days to fix it before the case may proceed. A plaintiff who wins, or whose case is followed by repeal or withdrawal of the rule before a final court decision, receives reasonable costs and attorney's fees. After receiving notice, the attorney general has 30 days to investigate. If a violation is found, the local government then has 30 days to fix it before the case may proceed.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Signed by Governor Brad Little on 04/02/26 Session Law Chapter 295 Effective: 04/02/2026Became Law
- Apr 1Reported delivered to Governor at 6:50 p.m. on 04/01/26To Governor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 1Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Apr 1Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Apr 1Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Apr 1Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 60-8-2AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon(Cannon), Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts(Batt), Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Church, Egbert(Beazer), Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Haws, Mathias, RubelAbsent – Berch, WheelerFloor Sponsor - BoyleTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 1Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 31Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Read First Time, Referred to State AffairsMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 30Read third time in full – PASSED - 31-3-1AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Rabe, Taylor, WintrowAbsent and excused – AdamsFloor Sponsor - KeyserTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 27Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 25Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Mar 24Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
Gun Policy