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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Establishes Contingent Framework to Authorize Machine Guns If Federal Restrictions Are Lifted
Last action · March 3, 2026: Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
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What This Bill Proposed
MACHINE GUNS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding machine guns and contingent authorization and to establish provisions regarding a prohibition on enforcement of invalid federal restrictions.
The measure determines whether state resources can be used to enforce federal firearms restrictions and sets the legal conditions under which firearms manufacturers and civilians could lawfully handle machine guns within Idaho if federal law changes.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
law-abiding civilians
Eligible individuals gain the right to lawfully possess, purchase, receive, sell, transfer, or manufacture machine guns in Idaho upon the occurrence of a trigger event.
Idaho-based firearms industry
Manufacturers and industrial entities are authorized to produce, sell, and transfer machine guns within the state once federal restrictions cease to apply.
state agencies and political subdivisions
Government bodies and their employees are barred from adopting rules that burden machine gun activities and are restricted from expending resources to enforce invalidated federal rules.
Key Facts
- Establishes a contingent framework under Idaho Code Section 18-3328 that automatically authorizes machine gun possession, purchase, sale, transfer, and manufacture upon a qualifying federal trigger event.
- Defines 'trigger event' as congressional repeal of 18 U.S.C. 922(o), a binding Supreme Court or federal court decision invalidating or enjoining the federal restriction, or formal written notice by the Idaho Attorney General that the ATF has ceased enforcing the restriction against law-abiding civilians.
- Prohibits state agencies, political subdivisions, and employees from adopting or enforcing any rule, regulation, ordinance, or policy that prohibits or unduly burdens the lawful handling of machine guns after a trigger event.
- Prohibits state and local agencies from expending funds, personnel, or resources to enforce 18 U.S.C. 922(o) or to provide material support to federal authorities for investigating or prosecuting conduct that is lawful under the new state section.
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- Requires the Idaho Attorney General to publish notice on their official website and transmit notice to the governor, senate president pro tempore, house speaker, and director of the Idaho State Police within 30 days of determining a trigger event has occurred.
- Makes the operating provisions of the contingent authorization effective on the thirtieth day following the date the attorney general issues the notice.
- Excludes persons prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law from receiving machine gun authorization, and maintains all generally applicable criminal laws regarding reckless endangerment or unlawful discharge.
- Sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2026, under an emergency declaration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill immediately legalize machine guns in Idaho?
Who is eligible to possess or manufacture machine guns if the trigger event occurs?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Mar 3, 2026CommitteeReported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Mar 2, 2026IntroducedIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR 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.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Contingent State Authorization Framework
The legislation uses a conditional trigger mechanism tied to federal legislative, judicial, or executive actions rather than establishing immediate deregulation.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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