HB2661 amends the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act to reduce the fee for a licensee requesting a new concealed carry license under Section 55. Under current law, that applicant pays $75, with the money split among the State Police Firearm Services Fund, the Mental Health Reporting Fund, and the State Crime Laboratory Fund. The bill lowers that amount to $5 and directs the full amount to the State Police Firearm Services Fund.
The measure does not change the general application or renewal fees for new applicants or non-residents. Its effect is limited to the specific category of licensees seeking a new license in accordance with Section 55, which appears to cover replacement or reissued licensing circumstances rather than standard initial issuance or renewal. By changing the fee structure, the bill would reduce revenue to the Mental Health Reporting Fund and the State Crime Laboratory Fund for these transactions and increase the share going to the State Police Firearm Services Fund only to the extent of the new $5 fee.
The bill’s likely practical impact is to make this particular concealed carry licensing transaction much less expensive for affected licensees while modestly reducing dedicated funding streams tied to firearm-related fees. It would amend Section 60 of the Act and alter how fees are deposited, but it does not otherwise revise eligibility, training, or licensing standards.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or support levels in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a fee-reduction proposal in the firearms policy area, which may attract support from gun-rights advocates and concern from those focused on funding for mental health and crime laboratory programs.
The main point of contention is the redistribution of fee revenue: supporters may view the $75-to-$5 reduction as a consumer relief or administrative simplification measure, while opponents may object that it cuts dedicated funding for the Mental Health Reporting Fund and State Crime Laboratory Fund and reduces the financial contribution associated with concealed carry licensing.
Impact
HB2661 would amend 430 ILCS 66/60 of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act by changing the fee for a licensee requesting a new license under Section 55 from $75 to $5 and by directing the entire fee to the State Police Firearm Services Fund. It would eliminate the current statutory apportionment of that fee to the Mental Health Reporting Fund and the State Crime Laboratory Fund for this category of license transaction, thereby reducing revenue to those funds and lowering the cost for affected licensees.
Sentiment
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so the record does not show formal legislative sentiment. From the bill text, the proposal appears to be a pro-reduction fee measure in the concealed carry context, which would likely be viewed favorably by supporters of lower firearm licensing costs and more cautiously by those concerned about preserving dedicated public-safety and mental-health funding.
Contention
The principal controversy is fiscal: the bill would sharply reduce the fee paid by a licensee requesting a new concealed carry license and would redirect all of that revenue to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, removing the current allocations to the Mental Health Reporting Fund and the State Crime Laboratory Fund. Supporters are likely to emphasize affordability and reduced burden on licensees, while opponents are likely to focus on the loss of earmarked funding for mental health reporting and crime lab operations.