HB1123

House Bill 1123 amends Arkansas law to expand the eligibility for concealed carry permits to individuals who have previously sought voluntary mental health treatment. Previously, this legal pathway was limited to military veterans; the bill extends this opportunity to all individuals who have voluntarily sought and completed mental health treatment. To qualify, an applicant must wait at least two years following the completion of their treatment before petitioning a circuit court. The court is tasked with determining the applicant's current mental fitness and whether granting a permit would pose a risk to public safety. The process requires the petitioner to waive medical confidentiality regarding the treatment in question, and it grants prosecuting attorneys the right to contest the petition. Applicants may only file such a petition once every two years, and successful petitioners must have their court order forwarded to the Division of Arkansas State Police.