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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the locations where a handgun license holder may carry a |
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handgun. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 37.0814(d), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The board of trustees of a school district that claims a |
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good cause exception under Subsection (c) must develop an |
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alternative standard with which the district is able to comply, |
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which may include providing a person to act as a security officer |
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who is: |
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(1) a school marshal; or |
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(2) a school district employee or a person with whom |
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the district contracts who: |
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(A) has completed school safety training |
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provided by a qualified handgun instructor certified in school |
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safety under Section 411.1901, Government Code; and |
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(B) carries a handgun on school premises in |
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accordance with written regulations or written authorization of the |
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district under Section 46.03(a)(1) [46.03(a)(1)(A)], Penal Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.209(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (i), a state agency or |
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a political subdivision of the state may not take any action, |
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including an action consisting of the provision of notice by a |
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communication described by Section 30.06 or 30.07, Penal Code, that |
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states or implies that a license holder who is carrying a handgun |
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under the authority of this subchapter is prohibited from entering |
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or remaining on a premises or other place owned or leased by the |
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governmental entity unless license holders are prohibited from |
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carrying a handgun on the premises or other place by [Section 46.03, |
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Penal Code, or] other law. |
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SECTION 3. Section 30.06(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(e) It is an exception to the application of this section |
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that the property on which the license holder carries a handgun is |
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owned or leased by a governmental entity [and is not a premises or |
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other place on which the license holder is prohibited from carrying |
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the handgun under Section 46.03]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 30.07(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(e) It is an exception to the application of this section |
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that the property on which the license holder openly carries the |
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handgun is owned or leased by a governmental entity [and is not a |
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premises or other place on which the license holder is prohibited |
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from carrying the handgun under Section 46.03]. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 46.03(a) and (g-2), Penal Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, |
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knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, |
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location-restricted knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in |
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Section 46.05(a): |
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(1) on the premises of a school or postsecondary |
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educational institution, on any grounds or building owned by and |
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under the control of a school or postsecondary educational |
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institution and on which an activity sponsored by the school or |
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institution is being conducted, or in a passenger transportation |
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vehicle of a school or postsecondary educational institution, |
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whether the school or postsecondary educational institution is |
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public or private, unless[: |
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[(A)] pursuant to written regulations or written |
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authorization of the school or institution; [or |
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[(B) the person possesses or goes with a |
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concealed handgun that the person is licensed to carry under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and no other weapon to |
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which this section applies, on the premises of a postsecondary |
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educational institution, on any grounds or building owned by and |
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under the control of the institution and on which an activity |
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sponsored by the institution is being conducted, or in a passenger |
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transportation vehicle of the institution;] |
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(2) on the premises of a polling place on the day of an |
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election or while early voting is in progress; |
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(3) on the premises of any government court or offices |
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utilized by the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or |
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written authorization of the court; |
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(4) on the premises of a racetrack; |
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(5) in or into a secured area of an airport; |
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(6) within 1,000 feet of premises the location of |
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which is designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a |
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place of execution under Article 43.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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on a day that a sentence of death is set to be imposed on the |
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designated premises and the person received notice that: |
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(A) going within 1,000 feet of the premises with |
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a weapon listed under this subsection was prohibited; or |
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(B) possessing a weapon listed under this |
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subsection within 1,000 feet of the premises was prohibited; |
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(7) on the premises of a business that has a permit or |
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license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its |
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income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for |
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on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic |
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Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code; |
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(8) on the premises where a high school, collegiate, |
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or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking |
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place, unless the person is a participant in the event and a |
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firearm, location-restricted knife, club, or prohibited weapon |
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listed in Section 46.05(a) is used in the event; |
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(9) on the premises of a correctional facility; |
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(10) on the premises of a civil commitment facility; |
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(11) on the premises of a hospital licensed under |
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Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing |
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facility licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless |
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the person has written authorization of the hospital or nursing |
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facility administration, as appropriate; |
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(12) on the premises of a mental hospital, as defined |
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by Section 571.003, Health and Safety Code, unless the person has |
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written authorization of the mental hospital administration; |
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(13) in an amusement park; or |
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(14) in the room or rooms where a meeting of a |
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governmental entity is held, if the meeting is an open meeting |
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subject to Chapter 551, Government Code, and if the entity provided |
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notice as required by that chapter. |
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(g-2) An offense committed under Subsection (a)(8), |
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(a)(10), (a)(11), or (a)(13)[, (a-2), (a-3), or (a-4)] is a Class A |
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misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 6. Section 46.15(a), Penal Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 501 (H.B. 2291), 765 (H.B. 4504), and 1077 (S.B. 599), Acts |
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of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Sections 46.02 and 46.03 do not apply to: |
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(1) peace officers or special investigators under |
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Article 2A.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, and neither section |
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prohibits a peace officer or special investigator from carrying a |
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weapon in this state, including in an establishment in this state |
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serving the public, regardless of whether the peace officer or |
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special investigator is engaged in the actual discharge of the |
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officer's or investigator's duties while carrying the weapon; |
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(2) parole officers, and neither section prohibits an |
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officer from carrying a weapon in this state if the officer is: |
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(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the |
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officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and |
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(B) in compliance with policies and procedures |
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adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the |
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possession of a weapon by an officer while on duty; |
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(3) community supervision and corrections department |
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officers appointed or employed under Section 76.004, Government |
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Code, and neither section prohibits an officer from carrying a |
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weapon in this state if the officer is: |
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(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the |
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officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and |
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(B) authorized to carry a weapon under Section |
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76.0051, Government Code; |
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(4) an active or retired judicial officer as defined |
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by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is licensed to carry a |
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handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; |
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(5) an honorably retired peace officer or other |
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qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined by 18 U.S.C. |
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Section 926C, who holds a certificate of proficiency issued under |
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Section 1701.357, Occupations Code, and is carrying a photo |
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identification that is issued by a federal, state, or local law |
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enforcement agency, as applicable, and that verifies that the |
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officer is an honorably retired peace officer or other qualified |
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retired law enforcement officer; |
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(6) the attorney general or a United States attorney, |
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district attorney, criminal district attorney, county attorney, or |
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municipal attorney who is licensed to carry a handgun under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; |
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(7) an assistant United States attorney, assistant |
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attorney general, assistant district attorney, assistant criminal |
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district attorney, or assistant county attorney who is licensed to |
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carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; |
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(8) a bailiff designated by an active judicial officer |
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as defined by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is: |
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(A) licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter |
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H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and |
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(B) engaged in escorting the judicial officer; |
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(9) a juvenile probation officer who is authorized to |
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carry a firearm under Section 142.006, Human Resources Code; |
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(10) [a person who is volunteer emergency services |
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personnel if the person is: |
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[(A) carrying a handgun under the authority of |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and |
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[(B) engaged in providing emergency services; or |
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[(11)] a person who: |
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(A) retired after serving as a judge or justice |
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described by Section 411.201(a)(1), Government Code; and |
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(B) is licensed to carry a handgun under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; or |
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(11) a person who is carrying: |
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(A) a license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter |
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411, Government Code, to carry a handgun; and |
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(B) a handgun: |
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(i) in a concealed manner; or |
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(ii) in a holster [a district or county |
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clerk who is carrying a handgun the clerk is licensed to carry under |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code]. |
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SECTION 7. Section 46.15(j), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(j) The provisions of Sections 46.02 and 46.03(a)(7)[, |
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(a-2), (a-3), and (a-4)] do not apply to an individual who carries a |
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handgun as a participant in a historical reenactment performed in |
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accordance with the rules of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage |
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Commission. |
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SECTION 8. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 104.06(c), Alcoholic Beverage Code; |
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(2) Section 411.204, Government Code; |
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(3) Section 552.002, Health and Safety Code; |
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(4) Sections 46.03(a-2), (a-3), (a-4), (e-1), (e-2), |
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and (f), Penal Code; and |
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(5) Sections 46.15(p), (q), and (r), Penal Code. |
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SECTION 9. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 10. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |