Texas Bill Could Lead Effort for National Reciprocity
"The biggest form of this bill that I see on behalf of the Association is that it's going to put Texas in a leadership role."
- John C. Poole, II (TSRA Executive Director and Acting Legislative Director)
- John C. Poole, II (TSRA Executive Director and Acting Legislative Director)
The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee heard 7+ hours of testimony in a public hearing Monday night.
On Monday, February 24, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee held a public hearing on Texas Senate Bill 706 by TSRA A+ rated Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown). This TSRA-backed bill requires Texas to universally recognize all valid out-of-state carry licenses. TSRA Executive Director John Poole testified in support of SB 706, stating that Texas should join 20 other states with universal recognition laws, modernize its reciprocity law to be consistent with the permitless carry statute that applies to nonresidents, and lend support to efforts to pass National Right to Carry Reciprocity. The bill was left pending – a common practice where legislation that has been heard is brought up for a vote at a future committee meeting.
In dedication to the rights of law-abiding Texans, TSRA and other like-minded organizations remained at the Capitol through the night to testify.
Ironically, while the Texas Legislature is considering expanding self-defense rights across state lines, state lawmakers next door in Santa Fe are moving in the opposite direction. Early yesterday, a New Mexico Senate committee approved Senate Bill 507 by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces), a measure that would repeal that state’s carry license reciprocity law. This means Texas Licenses to Carry would no longer be valid there and Texans could be committing a crime if they carried a handgun concealed in New Mexico. This drastic action highlights the need for passage of National Right to Carry Reciprocity in Congress.
Senator Bryan Hughes, chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee and A+ rated TSRA lawmaker, takes testimony from pro-Second Amendment advocates during the hearing on SB 706.
Since our last report on pro-Second Amendment bills which have been introduced for the 89th legislative session at the Texas Capitol, a number of TSRA-supported House measures now have Senate companion bills filed:
House Bill 162 & Senate Bill 1362: The "Anti-Red Flag Acts" by State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), prohibiting the recognition, service, and enforcement of red flag orders unless expressly authorized by Texas law.
House Bill 259 & Senate Bill 1596: Introduced by Rep. Richard Hayes (R-Lake Dallas) & Sen. Brent Hagenbuch (R-Denton), removing short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from the list of prohibited weapons in Texas. These items would still be regulated under the National Firearms Act at the federal level.
House Bill 920 & Senate Bill 1603: Authored by State Rep. Ben Bumgarner (R-Roanoke) and Sen. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi), exempting firearms, ammunition, and firearms accessories from the state sales and use tax.
House Bill 1337 & Senate Bill 706: Filed by Rep. Carrie Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) and Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown), providing for universal recognition of out-of-state carry licenses and aligning Texas' License To Carry law with the permitless carry law.
House Bill 1715 & Senate Bill 1065: Introduced by Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), requiring contracts involving the use of property owned or leased by a governmental entity to include a provision that the contractor may not restrict the carrying of a handgun by a License To Carry holder on the property during the term of the contract. This legislation is in response to the State Fair of Texas’ gun ban.
House Bill 1403 & Senate Bill 1524: Authored by Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) and Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), prohibiting child placement and state agencies from requiring foster parents to provide a list of the specific types of firearms that are kept in the home and ensures that information regarding the presence of firearms in the home remains confidential.
The bill introduction deadline in Texas is March 14. While the list above is not exhaustive of the measures TSRA will be supporting in Austin this session, legislation having both a Senate and a House version filed could give these a leg up when more than 8500 bills are expected to be filed and less than 20 percent are likely to pass.
House Bill 162 & Senate Bill 1362: The "Anti-Red Flag Acts" by State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), prohibiting the recognition, service, and enforcement of red flag orders unless expressly authorized by Texas law.
House Bill 259 & Senate Bill 1596: Introduced by Rep. Richard Hayes (R-Lake Dallas) & Sen. Brent Hagenbuch (R-Denton), removing short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from the list of prohibited weapons in Texas. These items would still be regulated under the National Firearms Act at the federal level.
House Bill 920 & Senate Bill 1603: Authored by State Rep. Ben Bumgarner (R-Roanoke) and Sen. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi), exempting firearms, ammunition, and firearms accessories from the state sales and use tax.
House Bill 1337 & Senate Bill 706: Filed by Rep. Carrie Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) and Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown), providing for universal recognition of out-of-state carry licenses and aligning Texas' License To Carry law with the permitless carry law.
House Bill 1715 & Senate Bill 1065: Introduced by Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), requiring contracts involving the use of property owned or leased by a governmental entity to include a provision that the contractor may not restrict the carrying of a handgun by a License To Carry holder on the property during the term of the contract. This legislation is in response to the State Fair of Texas’ gun ban.
House Bill 1403 & Senate Bill 1524: Authored by Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) and Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), prohibiting child placement and state agencies from requiring foster parents to provide a list of the specific types of firearms that are kept in the home and ensures that information regarding the presence of firearms in the home remains confidential.
The bill introduction deadline in Texas is March 14. While the list above is not exhaustive of the measures TSRA will be supporting in Austin this session, legislation having both a Senate and a House version filed could give these a leg up when more than 8500 bills are expected to be filed and less than 20 percent are likely to pass.
TSRA members should contact their state lawmakers and urge them to support these bills! Contact information for State Representatives and Senators can be found here https://www.house.texas.gov/members and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php
Attendance and testimony by TSRA during the Texas Legislative Session is vital to maintaining the rights of law-abiding Texans. Our efforts cannot be sustained without your help! Please visit TSRAPAC.com to contribute to our mission.
Article by TSRA Legislative Team
February 25, 2025
Article by TSRA Legislative Team
February 25, 2025