Lawmakers in Texas have begun pre-filing bills for next year’s legislative session, and both pro-gun and anti-gun measures indicate that the session is likely to be an active one where guns and the Second Amendment are concerned.
Within the first three days of the pre-filing period, more than 75 gun-related measures were introduced for the 2025 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. The majority of the legislation is anti-gun in nature and covers many different aspects of the gun-ban agenda.
Pre-filed anti-gun bills deal with red-flag gun confiscation, bans on private firearms transfers, restrictions on standard magazine capacity, prohibitions on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and repeal of campus carry, open carry and the state firearms preemption law. In fact, the measures are so severe that NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) said, taken in their entirety, the measures would “make Biden-Harris and national gun control organizations proud.”
On the other hand, a number of pro-gun measures have also been pre-filed in the Lone Star State. House Bill 162 targets so-called red-flag laws, which typically have no safeguards for due process of those subject to seizures. The measure would ban state or local governmental entities or their employees from recognizing, serving or enforcing red-flag gun confiscation orders in Texas, and also probit adopting rules, ordinances, orders or policies relating to such orders. Additionally, the measure would prohibit those government entities from accepting federal grant money for red-flag laws.
Another pro-gun measure, House Bill 644, would provide immunity to business owners who allow licensed concealed handguns on their premises. The legislation is designed to encourage business owners to not restrict carry.
House Bill 929 is the antithesis of the laws passed in California and Colorado that place additional taxes on firearm and ammunition purchases. This measure would exempt firearms, ammo and firearms accessories from state sales and use tax.
Another measure, House Bill 1337 would put Texas in line with the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity move expected under the second Trump Administration. The measure provides for universal recognition of out-of-state carry licenses, bringing Texas’ LTC law into line with the “permitless” carry law that applies equally to nonresidents.
Lastly, House Bill 1403 would prohibit 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. That would ensure that information regarding the presence of firearms in the home remains confidential—as it should be in a free state.
The 2025 legislative session is set to convene on January 14, and the deadline to introduce bills is March 14.
