Illinois State Police release emergency rules for FOID card holders

Earlier this week, the Illinois State Police issued new emergency rules to help firearm owners with expired Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards. The new rules are aimed at helping firearm owners during the current COVID-19 pandemic and related FOID renewal backlog. These rule changes are as follows:

• FOID card holders, who submit their renewal application will remain valid during the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for a period of 12 months following the termination of the disaster, even if their renewal application is/was not submitted prior to expiration.
• CCL licensees, who submit their renewal application, will remain valid during the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for a period of 12 months following its termination, even if their CCL renewal application was not submitted prior to expiration.
• CCL licensees will not be required to immediately submit proof of three-hour training with their CCL renewal application.
• CCL licensees will need to submit proof of their three-hour renewal training within 12 months following the termination of the state’s disaster proclamation in order to maintain the validity of their CCL license.

The agency also released answers to questions about the new rules:

19. My FOID card is expired last week and I just sent in my renewal. How do these rules affect me?
    A. FOID cards will remain valid during the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for a period of 12 months following the termination of the disaster even if a renewal application is/was not submitted prior to expiration

    Q: My FOID card shows that it is expired, but these rules mean that it is still valid. I went to my local dealer and they refused to sell me ammunition and/or a firearm. Why?
    A: Dealers are required to check your FOID card before selling ammunition and/or a firearm. A dealer may decline to sell ammunition and/or a firearm if they so choose.  Policies on this issue may vary from store to store. Federal regulations pertaining to the purchase of ammunition and firearms have not changed.

    Q: I am a CCL holder. How can I complete my three-hour training?
    A: Renewal applications will be accepted without proof that renewal training is completed.  CCL licensees will need to submit proof of their three-hour renewal training within 12 months following the termination of the state’s disaster proclamation in order to maintain the validity of their CCL license. 

    Q: My Illinois DL or ID card is expired, may I apply for a FOID/CCL?
    A: Yes, per the Governor’s Executive Order, expired DL or ID cards will be treated as valid for the duration of the disaster proclamation and 30 days thereafter.

    Q: If my FOID card expired in February, and I just sent in my FOID card renewal application, and the disaster order terminates in August, is my FOID card valid through August of 2021??
    A:  Yes.

    Q: I submitted a FOID/CCL application last month. Are new FOID and CCL applications still being processed or only applications for renewal?
    A:  New applications are being processed, but you should expect delays.  Like all entities, our normal operations have been impacted by COVID 19.

    Q: My FOID/CCL expired three months ago, and I haven’t submitted a renewal application as of today. Can I submit my late FOID/CCL renewal application now in order for my expired FOID/CCL to remain valid, or was there a specific time frame I needed to do this in, in order for it to remain valid?
    A:  Your expired FOID/CCL will remain valid for the duration of the disaster proclamation plus 12 months.  If you fail to file a renewal application during that time frame, your FOID/CCL license will expire once the 12-month period has elapsed.