Two More Pro-Gun Measures Await Vote by Full Senate
Since last week, two more TSRA-backed bills were reported out of Senate committees: Senate Bill 1065 by Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) and Senate Bill 1524 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston).
SB 1065 reinforces Texans’ Second Amendment rights by mandating that government contracts include provisions protecting licensed handgun carriers. The bill prohibits contractors leasing government property from imposing restrictions or posting misleading notices that prohibit handguns on premises. The bill ensures that citizens can exercise their constitutional rights by allowing residents and license holders to file complaints of violations with the Texas Attorney General.
In 2024, the State Fair of Texas introduced ban on all firearms – including those carried by License to Carry holders – from its premises. This served to highlight a loophole which private entities that lease public property can use to create gun-free zones. Gun-free zones actually make the public less safe: 82% of mass public shootings since 1998, and 94% since 1950, have occurred in places where guns are banned.
SB 1524 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 home 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.
SB 1065 reinforces Texans’ Second Amendment rights by mandating that government contracts include provisions protecting licensed handgun carriers. The bill prohibits contractors leasing government property from imposing restrictions or posting misleading notices that prohibit handguns on premises. The bill ensures that citizens can exercise their constitutional rights by allowing residents and license holders to file complaints of violations with the Texas Attorney General.
In 2024, the State Fair of Texas introduced ban on all firearms – including those carried by License to Carry holders – from its premises. This served to highlight a loophole which private entities that lease public property can use to create gun-free zones. Gun-free zones actually make the public less safe: 82% of mass public shootings since 1998, and 94% since 1950, have occurred in places where guns are banned.
SB 1524 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 home 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.
On Monday, dozens of individuals headed to Austin for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs. The Committee heard seventeen firearm-related bills, and dozens of individuals shared testimony for and against these bills well into the night.
TSRA Executive Director John Poole testified in favor of three pro-Second Amendment Measures on Monday:
HB 259: Repeals the state ban on short-barreled firearms.
TSRA reminded the Committee and attendees that this bill “does not take away the requirements of the National Firearms Act.” The bill furthers the freedoms of Texans under the Second Amendment.
Emily Taylor and Richard Hayes, II of Walker & Taylor, PLLC emphasized similar information and advised that the Supreme Court will likely make these items legal before the next Texas Legislative Session. “It does not make access to short-barreled firearms any easier,” said Taylor. “It does not change the federal enforcement of a violation.”
Representative Richard Hayes closed on the bill, stating, “There is flatly no evidence that short-barreled firearms are involved in more incidents – in fact, statistics show just the opposite.”
HB 1337: Universal LTC recognition to out-of-state license to carry holders.
“This bill further strengthens our place, with the 20 other states in the country that already have this,” said Poole. “The ones who’ve already had a background check, the ones who’ve already had a safety course, the ones who’ve already passed a shooting qualification. These are the type of visitors that we would really like to encourage to our state.”
HB 1794: Eliminating gun bans at polling places for law-abiding Texans.
“It furthers the rights of Texans who want to protect themselves and others,” said Poole. He pointed out that some of the gun-free polling zones are located in the most dangerous parts of Texas cities. Poole, who served as an advisor in 2014 in Afghanistan during their presidential election, shared a story of what he witnessed overseas. “Voting was so embedded to them as their right to do that they literally died to vote because they had no protection.” While the same scenario is unlikely to happen in Texas, Poole emphasized that Texans still need to be able to protect themselves while voting. “But does a Texan have a right to vote and a right to protect himself during his vote? YES, he does.”
These and other good bills were left pending after many hours of public testimony.
TSRA Executive Director John Poole testified in favor of three pro-Second Amendment Measures on Monday:
HB 259: Repeals the state ban on short-barreled firearms.
TSRA reminded the Committee and attendees that this bill “does not take away the requirements of the National Firearms Act.” The bill furthers the freedoms of Texans under the Second Amendment.
Emily Taylor and Richard Hayes, II of Walker & Taylor, PLLC emphasized similar information and advised that the Supreme Court will likely make these items legal before the next Texas Legislative Session. “It does not make access to short-barreled firearms any easier,” said Taylor. “It does not change the federal enforcement of a violation.”
Representative Richard Hayes closed on the bill, stating, “There is flatly no evidence that short-barreled firearms are involved in more incidents – in fact, statistics show just the opposite.”
HB 1337: Universal LTC recognition to out-of-state license to carry holders.
“This bill further strengthens our place, with the 20 other states in the country that already have this,” said Poole. “The ones who’ve already had a background check, the ones who’ve already had a safety course, the ones who’ve already passed a shooting qualification. These are the type of visitors that we would really like to encourage to our state.”
HB 1794: Eliminating gun bans at polling places for law-abiding Texans.
“It furthers the rights of Texans who want to protect themselves and others,” said Poole. He pointed out that some of the gun-free polling zones are located in the most dangerous parts of Texas cities. Poole, who served as an advisor in 2014 in Afghanistan during their presidential election, shared a story of what he witnessed overseas. “Voting was so embedded to them as their right to do that they literally died to vote because they had no protection.” While the same scenario is unlikely to happen in Texas, Poole emphasized that Texans still need to be able to protect themselves while voting. “But does a Texan have a right to vote and a right to protect himself during his vote? YES, he does.”
These and other good bills were left pending after many hours of public testimony.
Watch TSRA's Testimony Here:
For a full video of Monday's Committee Meeting, visit https://www.house.texas.gov/videos/21767
The TSRA PAC Legislative Team was at the Texas Capitol on Monday for 12+ hours. Our Team is committed to hearing the bills through and not just appearing for our testimony opportunities. Your help is necessary to continue this work. Please consider a contribution to the TSRA PAC today!
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Story by Marissa Brinkman/TSRA PAC Legislative Team
Video by Tabitha Pucek
April 15, 2025