The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Places Advisory Ballot Question on 2026 Election to Select Official State Gun
Last action · April 2, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 301 Effective: 04/02/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho voters will decide on a state gun via an on the 2026 general election ballot, giving the public a choice among six historical firearm models. The Secretary of State must place the question on the ballot, and the Legislative Council must prepare a descriptive by July 1, 2026.
Gives registered voters direct input into designating an official state symbol and requires state election officials to compile educational materials for the voters' pamphlet.
- The measure originated from the House Ways and Means Committee during the 2026 legislative session and was enacted on April 2, 2026. 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.
Idaho voters
Electors will be asked to vote on an advisory ballot question to select an official state gun during the 2026 general election.
Secretary of State
The office must place the advisory question on the 2026 general election ballot, tabulate results, and include the dossier in the voters' pamphlet.
Legislative Council
The council is authorized to add guns to the ballot list and must prepare and file an explanatory dossier by July 1, 2026.
Key Facts
- The 2026 general election ballot will include an advisory question asking voters to choose an official state gun of Idaho from six historical firearm options.
- The six firearm options are the Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30), Winchester Model 1873 (.44-40), 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver (.45 Colt), M1 Garand rifle (.30-06), Colt M1911 .45 automatic pistol (.45 ACP), and Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06).
- The Secretary of State must place the advisory question on the 2026 general election ballot and tabulate the results.
- The Legislative Council may add additional firearms to the ballot list prior to submitting its dossier.
Show all 7 facts
- The Legislative Council must prepare and file a descriptive dossier and brief statement of purpose with the Secretary of State no later than July 1, 2026.
- The advisory question, purpose statement, and firearm descriptions must be included in the voters' pamphlet to the extent practicable.
- The act took effect immediately upon passage and approval on April 2, 2026, due to an declared emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What choices will Idaho voters have on the 2026 ballot regarding the state gun?
Who is responsible for preparing explanatory information for voters?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Apr 2, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 301 Effective: 04/02/2026
- Apr 1, 2026Delivered to Governor at 4:12 p.m. on April 1, 2026
- Apr 1, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Apr 1, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Apr 1, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Apr 1, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 10 earlier actions
- Mar 31, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 31, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 32-0-3 AYES – Adams, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – None Absent and excused – Anthon, Toews, Wintrow Floor Sponsor - Harris Title apvd - to House
- Mar 27, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 26, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 23, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
- Mar 23, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 20, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-0-2 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – Berch, Cayler Floor Sponsor - Monks Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 19, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 18, 2026Reported Printed; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 18, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
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.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance15How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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