New laws include no-permit carry, powdered alcohol ban


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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idahoans can carry a concealed gun without needing licenses or training starting Friday, just in time for Independence Day.

The change is just one of the new laws going into effect on July 1, which is the start of Idaho's new financial calendar. This means the state will implement a new budget and plenty of new policy laws.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed into law nearly 370 pieces of legislation this year, while lawmakers amended more than 600 sections of Idaho code.

So before you fire up a grill for a July Fourth cookout, consider this roundup of recent legislation from lawmakers in Boise:

—PERMITLESS CARRY

On July 1, Idaho will become one of just 10 states that don't require concealed carry permits for people 21 and older. Idaho's Republican-dominated Statehouse passed the measure earlier this year despite safety concerns from the state's few Democratic lawmakers, law enforcement officials and even the governor over the lack of any training requirement. However, advocates argued that Idaho already allows residents to carry a gun openly without a permit. The new law, according to supporters, would allow those folks to wear a jacket over a holster.

—ABORTION LIMITS

It will soon be illegal to buy, sell or donate fetal tissue even though no such practice exists in the state. The law is a response to undercover videos released last summer that alleged Planned Parenthood officials were selling fetal tissue for profit. It was later determined the videos were altered and a grand jury in Texas cleared Planned Parenthood officials.

Meanwhile, women seeking an abortion will now be given a list of free ultrasound providers — typically owned by anti-abortion advocates.

—LOOSER ALCOHOL RULES

Lawmakers also changed underage drinking penalties. As of Friday, people under the age of 21 would be shielded from consumption or minor-in-possession charges if they seek medical treatment for themselves or other people in cases of alcohol-related illnesses.

Lawmakers also said cheers to allowing minors inside breweries.

Separately, movie theaters will finally be allowed to serve booze during movies that show nudity. Lawmakers changed the law after a cinema sued the state because authorities tried to revoke the theater's alcohol license for serving beer and wine during the risque film "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Despite going lenient on youths and movie theaters, lawmakers decided to ban powdered alcohol — even though it's not currently being sold in Idaho.

—RAPE KITS

Come July 1, there will be a new statewide system for collecting and tracking DNA evidence of sexual assault. The new law creates standards on how medical clinics use rape kits to collect fluids after a suspected sexual assault. It also implements a timeline if law enforcement agencies decide to send the evidence to a state forensic laboratory for testing, unless the victim requests otherwise. Under the old system, individual law enforcement agencies were in charge of determining if a kit should be tested. This has led to a wide disparity between agencies on how many kits are sent to the state lab for analysis.

—PUBLIC DEFENSE REFORMS

Idaho's public defense will undergo significant changes now that lawmakers have approved $5.5 million to improve how the state provides legal representation to those who can't afford their own attorney. The money will be funneled toward the Public Defense Commission, which will be in charge of creating new standards for indigent defense service and implementing a grant-application process for counties to offset the cost of complying with the stricter criteria.

—LOCAL CONTROL LOSSES

Cities and counties will no longer be allowed to implement local ordinances on plastic bags or minimum wage. This year, Idaho's Republican-dominant Statehouse listened to the business industry's concerns that allowing local municipalities the freedom to pass their own laws on plastic bag use or raising the minimum wage would hinder businesses — even though no city or county has successfully passed their own ordinance on these topics.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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