Concealed carry laws expanded in Idaho as of July 1

It’s now legal for anyone who is at least 18 years old to carry a concealed weapon in Weiser or any other city in Idaho.
 Among the many new laws that took effect on July 1, House Bill 516 expanded “constitutional carry” laws in Idaho to allow all U.S. citizens to carry a concealed weapon in city limits without a permit.
 Prior to the passage of HB 516 during the 2020 Legislature, anyone over the age of 18 could carry a concealed weapon in most places in Idaho, but only residents could carry a concealed weapon within city limits.
 HB 516 extended concealed carry protections to all U.S. citizens in Idaho. It removed language that  made a non-resident who knowingly or unknowingly carried a concealed weapon within city limits a potential law breaker.  
 The law was hailed as a “bold Second Amendment statement to all American citizens” by one gun-rights group in Idaho.
 In recent years, Idaho lawmakers have passed numerous laws that ended restrictions on carrying concealed weapons and broadened constitutional carry protections.
 In 2015, lawmakers passed a law that allowed concealed carry outside of city limits. That was followed in 2016 by legislation that dropped requirements that Idaho residents 21 and older needed a permit to carry concealed within city limits.
 In 2019, the age to carry a concealed weapon in city limits without a permit was lowered from age 21 to 18.
 HB 516 was one of more than 300 new or revised laws passed by lawmakers earlier this year and signed by the governor. In Idaho, many new or revised laws traditionally take effect on July 1, and there are many more now on the books.
 •The hands-free cellphone law mandates that all electronic devices be switched to hand-free mode while driving. Law enforcement will issue warnings until Dec. 31. Citations will be issued starting on Jan. 1, 2021.
 •Idaho drivers will save money by not having to buy new license plates every seven years. A new law allows license plates to remain valid for 10 years before they have to be replaced.
 •Cities in Idaho won’t have to hold an election if all seats are uncontested. Currently, cities are the only local taxing authority that are required to hold an election if all seats are uncontested. The new law  eliminates the requirement to hold an election if only one person files a declaration of candidacy or if there is only a write-in declaration for each office in a city election.
 •Homeowners associations cannot enforce any rules or restrictions that prohibit displaying a political sign. HOAs can still adopt rules that regulate the time, size, place, number and manner of displaying a political sign.
 The law also states that HOAs must give property owners three days notice before removing a political sign and/or imposing a fine or penalty for displaying a political sign.      •A new law clarifies and enhances restrictions on the use of drones to conduct surveillance by private citizens or law enforcement on individuals and private property. The law provides a narrow scope for law enforcement and fire department use of unmanned aircraft systems without a warrant.
 •State liquor stores and other alcohol retailers must follow some new restrictions when they offer  samples on-site to customers. Among those, no customer can have more than three samples within a 24-hour period. State liquor stores are prohibited from advertising alcohol sample tastings.
 •The state has added new language in the law regarding the misdemeanor DUI diversion program. No driver can qualify for a diversion program if he or she either holds a commercial driver’s license, holds a commercial driver’s permit or was operating a commercial vehicle at the time he or she was cited for DUI.