5/6/2026Amended by Chapter 171, 2026 General Session2026Openly carrying a dangerous weapon at an institution of higher education.As used in this section:"Institution of higher education" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53H-1-101."On or about school premises" means:in an institution of higher education; oron the grounds of a an institution of higher education.Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-11-101, and 76-11-201 apply to this section.An actor commits openly carrying a dangerous weapon at an institution of higher education if:the actor intentionally carries a dangerous weapon on or about school premises;the actor intentionally carries the dangerous weapon in a manner that the dangerous weapon is visible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person;the dangerous weapon is not covered, hidden, or secreted in a way that would make the dangerous weapon's presence unobservable to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person; andthe actor knows, or reasonably believes, that the actor is on or about school premises at the time the actor carries the dangerous weapon.A violation of Subsection (2) is a class (C) misdemeanor.This section does not apply if:the actor is an individual exempt from certain weapons laws as described in Section 53-5a-108;the actor is lawfully concealing the dangerous weapon and accidentally or inadvertently exposes the dangerous weapon to public view;the actor is openly carrying the dangerous weapon while lawfully responding to an active threat in accordance with Section 76-2-402, 76-2-405, or 76-2-407;the actor is openly carrying the dangerous weapon at the actor's place of residence or on the actor's real property;the open carrying of the dangerous weapon is approved by the responsible school administrator;the dangerous weapon is present or to be used in connection with a lawful, approved activity and is in the possession or under the control of the actor responsible for the dangerous weapon's possession or use; orthe actor is openly carrying the dangerous weapon in a vehicle lawfully under the actor's control, not including a vehicle owned by the school or used by the school to transport students.This section does not prohibit prosecution of another criminal offense that may occur on or about school premises.