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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky creates provisional concealed carry licenses for adults aged 18 to 20
Last action · April 14, 2026: received in House to Rules (H) taken from Rules posted for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 81-18 received in Senate to Rules (S) posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 28-9 received in House enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 173)Sponsors: Savannah Maddox and 27 others
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What This Bill Does
The General Assembly overrides the Governor's veto to enact HB 312, creating a provisional concealed carry license for adults aged 18 to 21 who meet existing background and training criteria. The Department of Kentucky State Police must issue the readily distinguishable licenses, which remain valid statewide until the holder turns 21. Licensees may transition to a standard concealed carry license upon turning 21 without retaking firearms training.
Young adults aged 18 to 20 in Kentucky gain legal authorization to carry concealed firearms and deadly weapons statewide under a dedicated provisional licensing framework administered by the Department of Kentucky State Police.
- Under prior Kentucky law, individuals under twenty-one years of age were ineligible to receive a standard concealed carry license pursuant to KRS 237.110. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
residents aged 18 to 20
Individuals aged 18 to 20 become eligible to obtain a provisional license to carry concealed firearms and ammunition statewide.
Department of Kentucky State Police
The department is required to issue provisional licenses, mail expiration notices, provide application forms, and destroy surrendered provisional licenses.
county sheriffs
Sheriffs receive paper applications, issue and date receipts, destroy provisional licenses upon standard license issuance, and accept surrendered expired licenses.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive a provisional concealed carry license under HB 312?
Do provisional license holders have to retake firearms training when they turn 21 and apply for a standard license?
What happens to the provisional license once a standard license is issued?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law over the governor's veto.
Procedural history
13 actions- Apr 14, 2026Housereceived in House to Rules (H) taken from Rules posted for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 81-18 received in Senate to Rules (S) posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 28-9 received in House enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 173)
- Apr 3, 2026HouseVetoed
- Mar 24, 2026SenateEnrolledenrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
- Mar 20, 2026HouseEnrolled3rd reading, passed 30-7 received in House enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- Mar 19, 2026HouseFloorreported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026
- Mar 18, 2026SenateCommitteetaken from Judiciary (S) 1st reading returned to Judiciary (S)
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 16, 2026SenateCommitteeto Judiciary (S)
- Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroducedreceived in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
- Jan 23, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 73-17
- Jan 22, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules floor amendment (1) filed posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026
- Jan 21, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- Jan 20, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Jan 12, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 23 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Concealed Carry Eligibility to Adults Aged 18-20
HB 312 creates a statutory pathway for individuals aged 18 to 20 to legally carry concealed weapons through a provisional license that transitions into a standard license at age 21.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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