State Rep. Joe Pavlov last week voted in favor of House Bill 4284, legislation that would simplify the concealed pistol license (CPL) renewal process, significantly reduce renewal costs for law-abiding gun owners, and ensure all renewal fees stay in the county where they are collected.

House Bill 4284 would reduce the CPL renewal fee from $115 to $30, easing the financial burden on responsible residents seeking to renew their license. Under the bill, the full renewal fee would be forwarded to the county treasurer and deposited directly into the county’s concealed pistol licensing fund, rather than being split with the state. The fee structure for first-time CPL applications would remain unchanged.

“CPL renewals shouldn’t come with excessive costs,” said Pavlov (R-Smiths Creek). “This bill lowers the price for residents who are simply renewing their license, and makes sure every dollar stays local to support county-level licensing services.” 

Currently, a significant portion of CPL renewal fees is diverted away from counties, even though local clerks and law enforcement offices handle the bulk of the administrative work. By allowing counties to retain the entire renewal fee, House Bill 4284 ensures local offices have the resources they need to process renewals efficiently and serve residents effectively.

“This is a commonsense reform,” said Pavlov. “It respects taxpayers, supports local governments, and makes the system work better for everyone involved.”

House Bill 4284 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.