Enrolled Copy H.B. 219
1 FIREARMS REGULATI ONS
2 2023 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Karianne Lisonbee
5 Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
6
7LONG TITLE
8General Description:
9 This bill declares that the state will not enforce certain federal firearms regulations.
10Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 <declares the state's commitment to the Second Amendment to the United States
13Constitution; and
14 <declares that the state and its political subdivisions will not enforce federal
15regulations that purport to restrict or ban certain firearms, ammunition, or firearms
16accessories.
17Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19Other Special Clauses:
20 This bill provides a special effective date.
21Utah Code Sections Affected:
22ENACTS:
23 53-5a-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24 53-5a-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25 53-5a-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26
27Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 53-5a-201 is enacted to read: H.B. 219
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29 Part 2. Federal Firearm Enforcement Limitation Act
30 53-5a-201. Findings.
31 To protect and preserve the individual right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the
32Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Utah Constitution, Article I, Section
336, the Legislature makes the following findings:
34 (1) the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to the state and
35the state's people all powers not granted to the federal government elsewhere in the United
36States Constitution and reserves to the state and people of Utah certain powers as those powers
37were understood at the time that Utah was admitted to statehood;
38 (2) the guarantee of powers to the state and the state's people under the Tenth
39Amendment is a matter of contract between the state and people of Utah and the United States
40as of the time of statehood;
41 (3) the Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to the people
42rights not granted in the United States Constitution and reserves to the people of Utah certain
43rights as those rights were understood at the time that Utah was admitted to statehood;
44 (4) the guarantee of rights to the people under the Ninth Amendment is a matter of
45contract between the state and people of Utah and the United States as of the time of statehood;
46 (5) the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reserves to the people the
47right to keep and bear arms as that right was understood at the time that Utah was admitted to
48statehood, and the guarantee of the right is a matter of contract between the state and people of
49Utah and the United States as of the time of statehood; and
50 (6) the Utah Constitution clearly secures to Utah citizens, and prohibits
51unconstitutional government interference with, the right of individual Utah citizens to keep and
52bear arms.
53 Section 2. Section 53-5a-202 is enacted to read:
54 53-5a-202. Definitions.
55 As used in this part: Enrolled Copy H.B. 219
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56 (1) (a) "Federal regulation" means a federal executive order, rule, or regulation that
57infringes upon, prohibits, restricts, or requires individual licensure for, or registration of, the
58purchase, ownership, possession, transfer, or use of a firearm, ammunition, or firearm
59accessory.
60 (b) "Federal regulation" does not include:
61 (i) a federal firearm statute; or
62 (ii) a federal executive order, rule, or regulation that is incorporated into the Utah Code
63by reference.
64 (2) "Firearm" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-10-501.
65 (3) "Law enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
6653-13-103.
67 (4) "Political subdivision" means a city, town, metro township, county, local district, or
68water conservancy district.
69 Section 3. Section 53-5a-203 is enacted to read:
70 53-5a-203. Prohibition on enforcement.
71 (1) A law enforcement officer, state employee, or employee of a political subdivision is
72prohibited from implementing, enforcing, assisting, or cooperating in the enforcement of a
73federal regulation on firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition.
74 (2) An employee of the state or a political subdivision may not expend public funds or
75allocate public resources for the enforcement of a federal regulation on firearms, firearm
76accessories, or ammunition.
77 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (1) or (2), this section does not prohibit or otherwise
78limit a law enforcement officer, state employee, or employee of a political subdivision from:
79 (a) cooperating, communicating, or collaborating with a federal agency if the primary
80purpose of the cooperation is not the investigation or enforcement of a federal regulation on
81firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories;
82 (b) serving on or participating in: H.B. 219
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83 (i) a federal law enforcement task force or program if:
84 (A) investigation and prosecution of state or federal firearms regulations are part of the
85duties of the task force or program; or
86 (B) the law enforcement officer, state employee, or employee of the political
87subdivision is compensated by federal funds; or
88 (ii) a state law enforcement task force or program that:
89 (A) receives federal funding; or
90 (B) has participation from federal law enforcement officials; or
91 (c) referring an investigation to a federal law enforcement agency if the law
92enforcement officer, state employee, or political subdivision employee reasonably believes that
93a federal law regarding firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories has been violated.
94 (4) This section does not apply to:
95 (a) a law enforcement officer or state employee employed by or assisting:
96 (i) the Bureau of Criminal Identification of the Department of Public Safety established
97in Section 53-10-201;
98 (ii) the Peace Officer Standards and Training Division created in Section 53-6-103; or
99 (iii) the Utah National Guard or the Utah State Defense Force created in Title 39A,
100National Guard and Militia Act; or
101 (b) an individual who:
102 (i) is appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925D; or
103 (ii) is assisting another individual that is appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
104under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925D.
105 Section 4. Effective date.
106 If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
107upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
108Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
109the date of veto override. Enrolled Copy H.B. 219
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110