Yesterday, March 23, Governor Steve Beshear (D) signed Senate Bill 67 and House Bill 91 into law. Both of these bills passed through their respective chambers with strong bipartisan support. SB 67 passed in the House of Representatives on March 10 by a 89-5 vote after passing unanimously in the Senate on February 23. HB 91 passed in the Senate on March 11 by a 33-3 vote after passing in the House on February 25 by a 70-21 vote.
As previously reported, SB 67, introduced by state Senator C.B. Embry (R-6), will allow citizens more options for firearms training when obtaining a Concealed Deadly Weapons License (CDWL) and would help ease the timeline, cost and process. SB 67 also includes language that changes firearms safety and training courses offered by the NRA to any national firearms organizations as qualifying classes when applying for a CDWL, and adds Kentucky concealed carry law education to the new CDWL curriculum offered by a national organization. This new national organization curriculum would run concurrent with existing Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) courses and would not alter any CDWL renewals or training standards currently in place offered by DOCJT.
HB 91, introduced by state Representative James Kay (D-56), will clarify certain aspects of Kentucky’s charitable gaming statutes and afford groups like the Friends of NRA the opportunity to host more events throughout the state. HB 91 will also streamline the reporting process for those on the charitable gaming license.
Thank you to all of our members who contacted their legislators on behalf of SB 67 and HB 91. Passage of these bills could not have been done without your continuous support. Please thank Governor Beshear for signing both SB 67 and HB 91.