The 93rd General Assembly passed over 1,000 pieces of new legislation this session. Those laws will go into effect on Wednesday, July 28.
Nine of those are weapons laws, which include the following: SB 59, SB 306, SB 1598, HB 1898, HB 1957, SB 357, SB 555, SB 417, and SB 467.
SB 59
TO BE KNOWN AS THE “INTRASTATE FIREARMS PROTECTION ACT”; AND TO PREVENT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY, AND TRADE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION WITHIN THE BORDERS OF ARKANSAS.
A personal firearm, a firearms accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Arkansas and that remains within the borders of Arkansas is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce, as those items have not traveled in interstate commerce.
SB59 as engrossed on 03-31-2021 13:32:05 (state.ar.us)
SB 306
PERMITTING A CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSEE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN A MUNICIPALLY OWNED OR MAINTAINED PARK.
If the person has a license to carry a concealed handgun under § 5-73-301 et seq. and is carrying a concealed handgun in a municipally owned or maintained park, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational property, except for those portions of a municipally owned or maintained park or recreational property that contain a:
(i) Football field, baseball field, soccer field, or other sports field where an athletic event or practice is occurring at the time;
(ii) Municipally owned or maintained building; or
(iii) Leased area to be used for a special event.
SB306 as engrossed on 03-11-2021 13:40:41 (state.ar.us)
SB 1598
TO AMEND § 5-73-122; AND CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF “FACILITY” AS IT IS USED IN REGARD TO THE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
Arkansas Code § 5-73-122(a)(4), concerning the definition of “facility” as it is used in regard to the offense of carrying a firearm in publicly owned buildings or facilities, is amended to read as follows:
As used in this section, “facility” does not mean a municipally owned or maintained park, football field, baseball field, soccer field, or another similar municipally owned or maintained recreational structure or property.
Bill Drafting Template (state.ar.us)
HB 1898
TO DEFINE “VEHICLE” AS AN EXTENSION OF A PERSON’S HOME; AND TO DEFINE THE TERM “JOURNEY” ACROSS ALL APPLICABLE LAWS.
Arkansas Code § 5-73-101, concerning definitions to be used in regard to weapons, is amended to add additional subdivisions to read as follows:
(12) “Journey” means a person has left his or her home or the curtilage of his or her home either on foot, horseback, bicycle, or in an automobile for any purpose or duration; and
(13) “Vehicle” means any automobile and is considered an extension of a person’s home, with any protections that conveys.
Bill Drafting Template (state.ar.us)
HB 1957
CONCERNING THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL FIREARM BANS WITHIN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND CONCERNING STATE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
Also known as the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021
HB1957 as engrossed on 04-27-2021 17:31:52 (state.ar.us)
SB 357
REPEALING A STATUTE PROHIBITING THE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS; AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. (Concerning definitions used in regard to seizure and forfeiture of a firearm.)
Arkansas Code § 5-73-130(c), concerning definitions used in regard to seizure and forfeiture of a firearm, is amended to read as follows: (c) As used in this section, “unlawfully in possession of a firearm” As Engrossed: S3/3/21 SB357
4 03-03-2021 13:45:06 BPG306 does not include any act of possession of a firearm that is prohibited only by:
(1) Section 5-73-127, unlawful to possess loaded center-fire weapons in certain areas; or
(2) A a regulation or rule of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission.
SB357 as engrossed on 03-03-2021 13:45:09 (state.ar.us)
SB 555
CONCERNING THE POSSESSION OR STORAGE OF A PERSON’S FIREARM WHEN A PERSON LEAVES HIS OR HER FIREARM INSIDE OF HIS OR HER CAR IN HIS OR HER EMPLOYER’S PARKING LOT.
SB555 as engrossed on 04-05-2021 13:29:26 (state.ar.us)
SB 417
PERMITTING A PERSON CONVICTED OF AN ANTITRUST VIOLATION OR OTHER UNLAWFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE TO LAWFULLY POSSESS A FIREARM UNDER STATE LAW.
It is “unlawful for any person … who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year … to … possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce”
SB417 as engrossed on 03-18-2021 14:03:19 (state.ar.us)
SB 467
PERMITTING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN TO POSSESS AND CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN WITHOUT A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.
An emergency medical technician may carry a concealed handgun at any time if the EMT is working as an EMT and carrying proper identification.
SB467 as engrossed on 03-15-2021 10:30:46 (state.ar.us)
Additional laws that will go into effect on Thursday impact elections, and the lottery. For a complete list of the new laws set to go into effect this week, visit the Arkansas State Legislative website at: Search Acts by Range – Arkansas State Legislature
