2014 Legislative Session Ends Next Week, Last Chance to Influence Legislation
The 2014 legislative session will come to a close on Thursday, March 20th. This presents the last opportunity for you to contact your House and Senate members to provide feedback on pending legislation that impacts county government. During these final days, it is very important that you pay special attention to any ACCG Action Alerts or emails that you receive from the policy staff and take immediate action.
Senate Addresses ACCG’s Concerns with Gun Bill
On Wednesday, March 12, the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee adopted a substitute version of HB 875, the omnibus gun bill of the 2014 General Assembly. Encouragingly, this Senate version of HB 875 addresses all three of ACCG’s objections with the original bill. Now, local governments can decide whether or not to allow weapons to be carried into their buildings, regardless of whether security screening in place; local law is enforcement no longer prohibited from detaining a person carrying a weapon to determine whether they are legally licensed to do so; and special interest groups are no longer able to sue counties and county officials for any alleged violation of the law, though aggrieved individuals maintain their right to bring action.
On the other hand, the three objectionable provisions above were added to HB 60, which was amended in the House to incorporate the original HB 875 language.
ACCG asks that county officials, elected and appointed, contact their legislators and urge them to adopt the Senate version of HB 875, reject any House changes to revised HB 875, and to oppose HB 60. Click here for more details on ACCG’s concerns with HB 60.