The Idaho measure we reported on earlier this week that would ban public contracts for companies that discriminate against the gun industry has been approved by a Senate committee and is headed to the Senate floor for a vote.
Senate Bill 1291 was introduced in the state Senate earlier this week. The measure would prohibit public contracts with individuals or companies that are boycotting those that engage in or support the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of firearms, and would also require companies that contract with the state to disclose if their policies discriminate against the firearms industry.
Additionally, it would protect some other industries from such discrimination, including those that engage in or support the exploration, production, utilization, transportation, sale or manufacture of fossil fuel-based energy, timber, minerals, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy or agriculture.
“The provisions of this section shall apply to contracts executed on and after July 1, 2024,” the measure’s language states. “Upon discovering that a contract fails to comply with the provisions of this section, the contracting authority shall have a period of ninety (90) days to obtain the written certification described in subsection (1) of this section. After such time, any contract continuing to violate the provisions of this section shall be void.”
The measure is in response to banks, financial services and other companies discriminating against firearms companies or organization in several states across the nation.
Another interesting bill, Senate Bill 1317, has also been approved in committee and has gone to the Senate for consideration. That measure would create a Gadsden flag license plate, with revenue generated through sales of the plate earmarked to fund a grant program for firearms safety training in schools.
The legislation also charges the state board of education with administering a grant program for firearms safety in schools.
“Such rules shall provide for moneys in the firearms safety grant fund to be awarded in the form of grants to school districts that apply for the use of such funds to establish or maintain firearms safety education courses pursuant to subsection (1) of this section,” the bill states.