The committee considered HB132, a bill imposing safe-storage-related criminal liability in certain cases, adopted Amendment 1 and advanced the bill with a favorable recommendation.

Representative Stoddard presented the bill and asked the committee to adopt Amendment 1 and then vote on the bill as amended. He described the amendment as narrowing the statute to apply when a firearm taken from negligent storage is used "in commission of a crime," and said the change is designed to make the provision "even stricter" than similar laws in other states.

Public testimony split along predictable lines. Bill Pederson of the Utah Shooting Sports Council said the organization opposed the bill, arguing "we do not need to add additional laws already on the books." Brett Robinson of the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office testified in favor, saying the proposal was "narrowly tailored, especially with the amendment," and that many firearms recovered in juvenile-related crimes originate in homes.

Representative Stoddard answered a question about potential civil liability by noting the bill’s statutory exemptions, including that the statute excludes minors obtaining a firearm through unlawful entry. He also said other parts of state law include criminal provisions when a parent gives a firearm to a child, but that exceptions and piecemeal code sections mean prosecutors lack an effective low-level option absent the present bill.

Representative Hollins moved Amendment 1 to HB132 and, after a voice vote, the committee approved the amendment unanimously. Hollins then moved that the committee pass HB132 as amended with a favorable recommendation and the committee proceeded to a roll-call vote.

The committee discussion and public testimony centered on two competing points: advocates arguing the measure is a narrowly tailored tool intended to reduce juvenile access to guns and related violent crime, and opponents arguing the state already has sufficient law and that criminalizing storage could unfairly penalize lawful gun owners. The bill record shows the amendment was adopted and the bill advanced to the floor for further consideration.

The committee returned to other business after the roll-call vote.

Ending: The bill will proceed to the full chamber for further consideration; committee records show Amendment 1 was adopted and the committee advanced HB132 with a favorable recommendation.