Texas 89th Legislative Session Started Today
The 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature is underway!
The Texas Legislature meets every two years, in odd-numbered years, for 140 days. This year, the end date is June 2.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will again take the reins as the powerful leader of the Texas Senate, and last week, the Texas Senate Republican Caucus unanimously chose Senator Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) as their policy leader. Today, the Texas House voted to elect State Representative Dustin Burrows as House Speaker. After a contentious race, he will next signal the direction the House will take on Second Amendment issues with his selection of House committee chairman and the makeup of House committees. In past years, this is where the rubber has met the road.
TSRA has had an excellent working relationship in the past with both our Senate and House leaders. We look forward to working with them again in the 2025 session to advance and protect the rights of law-abiding Texas gun owners!
Since our last update, additional bills have been filed:
Senate Bill 83 by Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood)
Extends the college and university campus carry law to elementary and secondary schools, as well as open-enrollment charter schools.
Senate Bill 674 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
Allows school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to offer students instruction on hunter education, the curriculum for which must be developed by the State Board of Education in cooperation with the Department of Parks & Wildlife and meet the requirements for a hunter education certificate.
Senate Bill 706 by Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)
Provides for universal recognition of out-of-state carry licenses to bring Texas' License To Carry law into line with the permitless carry law, which applies equally to non-residents.
Senate Bill 755 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
Establishes a sales tax holiday on purchases of firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition the second to last full weekend of February.
House Bill 1599 by Rep. Jon E. Rosenthal (D-Cypress)
Mandatory training for handgun purchases.
If you are not already a TSRA Member, we urge you to join. We are also encouraging contributions to the TSRA PAC. Any amount helps our small staff continue their goal of keeping Texas informed and keeping Texans’ rights intact throughout the 89th Session.
Story by TSRA Legislative Team
January 14, 2025