The Texas Senate Continues To Advance Important Second Amendment Protections This Week!
Today, the Texas Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1362 by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) on a 20-11 vote. This TSRA-backed measure bans enforcement of so-called “red flag” laws or “extreme risk protective orders” to protect Texans’ Second Amendment and due process rights. It prevents local governmental entities and officials from adopting or enforcing red flag or ERPO ordinances, rules, or regulations, and it prohibits the acceptance of federal grant money to implement or enforce federal red flag or ERPO laws.
TSRA opposes red flag or ERPO gun confiscation schemes because current statutes (Chapter 573 of the Health & Safety Code) are adequate to address dangerous or mentally ill persons and access to firearms; furthermore, TSRA has opposed red flag or ERPO bills for years in the Texas Legislature because they universally lack due process protections, sufficient evidentiary standards, and adequate options and procedures for relinquishing and regaining possession of firearms.
TSRA thanks Senator Hughes and his staff for shepherding this important bill through the Senate, and we look forward to supporting it in the House!
On Wednesday, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1524 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), legislation that prohibits state and child placement agencies from requiring foster parents to disclose specific types of firearms and to report any newly acquired or relinquished guns in the household. TSRA does not oppose foster parents being asked to disclose whether they own firearms, but we do object to them being required to provide specific descriptions or a registry of lawfully- owned guns to a state or child placement agency.
Ensuring foster parents are not required to provide a registry of firearms present in their homes could reduce barriers to fostering for some families. The concept for this legislation grew in part from a prospective foster family who contacted TSRA in advance of the 88th Regular Session, upset that they would have to provide such detailed information about firearms they owned to the state. Laws and regulations remain on the books to ensure firearms safety in Texas foster homes. The bill was left pending, awaiting a vote by the full committee.
Ensuring foster parents are not required to provide a registry of firearms present in their homes could reduce barriers to fostering for some families. The concept for this legislation grew in part from a prospective foster family who contacted TSRA in advance of the 88th Regular Session, upset that they would have to provide such detailed information about firearms they owned to the state. Laws and regulations remain on the books to ensure firearms safety in Texas foster homes. The bill was left pending, awaiting a vote by the full committee.
The Legislative Session has passed the halfway mark and has hit full stride! Your TSRA legislative team is at the Texas Capitol every day, working to advance pro-Second Amendment legislation and defeat attacks on our rights. Please donate to TSRA-PAC today to support their efforts!
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Story by TSRA Legislative Team
March 27, 2025