According to Texas law the first day to prefile bills was Monday, November 14, 2022. The 88th Legislature is in session 140 days, from Tuesday, January 10, 2023 to Monday, May 29. The last day to file regular bills is Friday, March 10.
Governor Abbott has 10 days after a bill is passed, or until until Sunday, June 20 for bills passed in the last 10 days of the session, to review bills passed by the State Legislature. He can sign a bill to authorize new law, he can pass the bill to become law without signing, or he can veto a bill.
Bills which are not effective immediately will become effective Wednesday, September 1, 2023.
This catalog of firearm-related bills was by Larry Arnold, larry@talonsite.com.
Relating to the imposition of a sales tax on ammunition, firearms, and firearms accessories to provide funding for the family violence program in the Health and Human Services Commission.
One percent tax on guns, ammo and firearm accessories to fund a family violence program.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Ways & Means
SB 406 by Eckhardt, Identical, 02/15/2023 S Referred to Finance
Relating to extreme risk protective orders; creating criminal offenses.
Judge may order surrender of guns to law enforcement without notice or a hearing based on statement of family or law enforcement. A hearing must be held within 14 days. A perminant order can`t be questioned before 91 days.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
SB 144 by Gutierrez | et al., Very Similar, 02/15/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Relating to prohibiting the transfer of certain semiautomatic rifles to certain recipients; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
Bans sale of semiauto rifles more than .22 Cal to persons less than 21.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to extreme risk protective orders; creating criminal offenses.
Judge may order surrender of guns to law enforcement without notice or a hearing based on statement of family or law enforcement. A hearing must be held within 14 days. A perminant order can`t be questioned before 91 days.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
SB 144 by Gutierrez | et al., Very Similar, 02/15/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the expunction of arrest records and files for certain defendants placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for the unlawful carrying of a handgun.
Allows expunction of arrest records for carrying without a license before 9-1-2021.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the possession of a weapon in certain locations of a government court.
Narrows the definition of government court or offices of the court to the courtroom where proceedings are being held, judges chambers, jury room, and office of the judge`s staff.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to prohibiting certain persons with chemical dependencies from possessing a firearm; creating a criminal offense.
Bans possession of guns during and for a year following a court order for chemical dependency treatment. Requires notice of court orders to DPS and NICS.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the offense of unlawful transfer of handguns and other firearms and to the duties of certain entities with respect to handgun licenses that are active, suspended, or revoked; creating a criminal offense.
DPS shall maintain a publicly available database of revoked and suspended licenses to carry. Dealers and individuals are required to check the database before transferring a gun.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the punishment for the offense of burglary of a vehicle.
Makes it a state jail felony to burglarize a rail car while possessing a gun, or stealing a gun, or breaking into more than one car, or using a stolen vehicle to commit the crime.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
Relating to the criminal offense of carrying a handgun while intoxicated.
Puts carrying while intoxicated in PC 46.022 instead of 46.02 (a)(6), makes it a Class A Misdemeanor. Makes `seeking an explanation over differences` include carrying while intoxicated.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to sales and use taxes imposed on certain assault weapons; imposing taxes.
Defines assault weapons, including rifles, pistols and shotguns, and large capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Impossess a 1,000 percent sales tax on assult weapons and magazines. Taxes will fund school safety.
Relating to the seizure of firearms during the emergency detention of certain persons who may have a mental illness.
law enforcement officers may seize any firearm readily accessable to a person if the person is apprehended for emergency detention on mental health grounds.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the reporting of certain orders and convictions to the Department of Public Safety and Federal Bureau of Investigation for use with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for the transfer of firearms.
Requires entering family violence protective orders or convictions in the Texas law enforcement information system within 3 days, and to NICS within 5 days.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to prohibiting the transfer of certain semiautomatic rifles to certain recipients; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
Bans transfer of semiauto rifles greater than .22 cal. To persons less than 21 YOA.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the regulation of certain firearm transfers; creating criminal offenses.
Private sales of guns must be reported to DPS. Bans private sale of more than five firearms per year. Private sales must go through an FFL for a NICS check.
Last Action:02/23/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the repeal of the authority of a commanding officer of the state militia to prohibit the sale or exchange of arms, ammunition, or explosives.
Commanders of state military forces may no longer shut down gun sales.
Last Action:02/28/2023 H Referred to State Affairs
Relating to requiring a person convicted of an offense involving family violence or a person who is the subject of a family violence protective order to surrender firearms owned by the person.
Sets a procedure for surrender of guns after family violence convictions or protective orders to private persons, FFLs, or law enforcement.
Last Action:02/28/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to prohibiting the transfer of firearms other than handguns to certain recipients; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
Bans sale of all long guns to persons less than 21 YOA, unless they completed Hunter Ed within a year..
Last Action:02/28/2023 H Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to the storage of firearms surrendered by a person subject to a magistrate's order for emergency protection or protective order as a result of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons.
Requires the county to set up a secure location to store firearms surrendered after a protective order. Requires persons under protective order surrender guns to the county.
Relating to firearms; authorizing a private civil right of action.
A 29-page bill that starts with 3 pages of rhetoric on how horrible .50 Cal. Rifles, assault weapons, and youth possessing firearms are. Definitions of the firearms and precursor parts. The bill authorizes enforcement through civil liability, instead of by law, and prohibits defendents from arguing that the law is unconstitutional.
Relating to law enforcement policies prohibiting a peace officer from using less lethal projectiles for the purpose of controlling the activity or movement of a gathering of people.
Prohibits law enforcement from using less-lethal ammunition to control crowds.
Relating to prohibiting weapons in certain facilities or residences providing services to individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability.
`Joshua`s Act` prohibits unlicensed carry in intermediate care facilities, state-supported living centers, and group homes.
Relating to a law enforcement agency policy regarding the discharge of a firearm by a peace officer at or in the direction of a moving vehicle.
Prohibits law enforcement from shooting at a moving vehicle except to protect from deadly force other than using the vehicle to strike someone. Doesn`t allow shooting at a vehicle being used to run someone down.
Relating to a waiver of the preservation of evidence and the return of a seized weapon in a criminal case.
A defendant pleading guilty or no contest my voluntarily waive preservation of evidence in the case and allow property including guns to be returned to the owner, other than theirself.
Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of reckless discharge of a firearm.
Present law prohibits reckless discharge of a gun in towns of 100,000 population or more. This bill removes the municpality restriction. Reckless discharge becomes an offense anywhere.
Relating to prohibiting carrying a firearm while intoxicated; creating a criminal offense.
Prohibits carrying a handgun or long gun in a public place while intoxicated. Public place is anywhere but a residence or motor vehicle. Exempts police.
Relating to requiring an armed security officer at each school district campus.
Requires public school districts insure at least one armed security person is present on each district campus, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Includes school district police officers, school resource officers, commissioned police officers employed as security, school marshals, and licensees who have completed the school safety class.
Relating to extreme risk protective orders; creating criminal offenses.
Requests for an extreme risk protection order can be filed by family or a prosecuting attorney acting on behalf of family or a peace officer. Provides for an ex parte confiscation, and guns must be surrendered to law enforcement and the person undergo a psychiatric evaluation. A perminant hearing is required within 14 days, and a perminant order is for one year. It can`t be appealed for 91 days..
Relating to the prosecution of the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child; increasing a criminal penalty.
The making a firearm accessable to a child law is broadened to include 17-year-olds, and requires parental approval instead of supervision by a person more than 18 YOA. Adds a third degree felony punishment if a person injured did not reside with the child.
Relating to eligibility requirements of the moving image industry incentive program for certain moving image projects involving a firearm.
Texas grant applications for movies where guns are used will include a requirement listing crew and cast members handling them, and requires them to pass Hunter Education or a similar course.
Relating to requiring a person convicted of an offense involving family violence or a person who is the subject of a protective order to surrender firearms owned by the person; authorizing a fee.
Persons convicted of family violence or issued protective orders must sell guns to an FFL or surrender them to law enforcement within 48 hours.
Relating to notice for certain defendants regarding the unlawful possession or acquisition of a firearm or ammunition.
Requires courts to warn persons convicted, or preparing to plead guilty or no contest, of misdemeanor family violence or felonies that they may not acquire firearms, and warn them that false statements to the court are punishible.
Last Action:01/25/2023 H Filed
SB 169 by Blanco, Identical, 02/15/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the prosecution of the offense of possessing a weapon in certain prohibited places associated with schools or postsecondary educational institutions.
Allows licensed concealed carry on public and private postsecondary institutions. Private colleges can no longer opt-out.
Relating to certain requirements of protective orders and conditions of release on bond and to the criminal penalties for violating those requirements and conditions.
Adds provision about electronic surveilance and control devices to protection orders.
Relating to requiring a licensed firearms dealer to report certain sales or transfers of multiple semiautomatic rifles to law enforcement; creating a criminal offense.
Requires FFLs to report the sale of two or more semiauto rifles to DPS,sheriff, and police,along with the purchaser's ID.