Portland City Council President Jamie Dunphy is pushing a new ordinance that would block concealed handguns from city-owned buildings where official meetings happen, including City Hall, the Portland Building and the 1900 Building. The proposal would strip away the affirmative-defense protection that licensed concealed-handgun holders have long relied on in those spots and could expose otherwise lawful carriers to criminal penalties under state law. The Community and Public Safety Committee took up the measure on Tuesday, debated a round of amendments and then voted to continue the item for more work.
What the ordinance would do
The draft ordinance would amend City Code sections 3.18.020, 14A.60.010 and 20.12.050 so that concealed-handgun-license (CHL) holders could no longer claim an affirmative defense if they are carrying in buildings used for official meetings. The restrictions would apply at all times to City Hall, the Portland Building and the 1900 Building. It also instructs the City Administrator to put up visible signs at regular entrances and handle the on-the-ground implementation of the new rules. According to the city's ordinance summary, the measure is described as a narrow step that lines up local code with authority granted under state law.
Council reaction
Dunphy has framed the proposal squarely as a public-safety move, telling reporters he is "trying to have no guns in City Hall." Some colleagues were not entirely sold, warning that the policy could snag people who are doing their best to follow the rules. Councilor Eric Zimmerman argued the ordinance "adds a significant legal risk" for otherwise law-abiding carriers, and City Attorney Robert Taylor cautioned that under the new structure a CHL holder could face misdemeanor charges, as reported by KOIN.
State law changed the rules
Senate Bill 243, enacted in 2025, granted cities explicit power to limit the CHL affirmative defense for firearms in certain public buildings. Under that statute, if a local government revokes the defense for a particular building, simply possessing a firearm there can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor, with potential penalties of up to 364 days in jail and a fine. That shift is the legal hook Portland is relying on to rewrite its code. The Oregon Legislative Information System lays out SB 243 in detail; see OLIS for the bill text and summary.
Exceptions and logistics
The proposal preserves limited carve-outs for on-duty police officers, military personnel carrying out official duties and government employees who are either authorized or required to carry firearms. City staff told the committee they expect little day-to-day disruption beyond new signage and routine implementation steps, and presentation materials say the city vetted feasibility with its security and facilities bureaus. Those details are included in the council's meeting packet and presentation materials on the city website, as reflected on the ordinance materials.
What’s next
After approving an amendment that altered one of the exhibits, the Community and Public Safety Committee voted to continue the ordinance on Tuesday so members could revisit it later. KOIN reports that the item is slated to return to committee on July 7, 2026, when councilors are expected to take more testimony and hammer out final language. For now, the ordinance sets up a clearer local choice on how gun-free city meeting rooms should be, while kicking off a broader fight over how far to go and what that means for licensed carriers who misread the fine print.
