|  | 
         
            |  | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | 
         
            |  | AN ACT | 
         
            |  | 
         
            |  | relating to the recognition of a handgun license issued by another | 
         
            |  | state. | 
         
            |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
            |  | SECTION 1.  Section 411.173(b), Government Code, is amended | 
         
            |  | to read as follows: | 
         
            |  | (b)  A valid license to carry a handgun issued by any other | 
         
            |  | state is recognized in this state.  The governor shall negotiate [ an  | 
         
            |  | agreement] with any other state an agreement that provides for the | 
         
            |  | reciprocal recognition [ issuance] of a license to carry a handgun | 
         
            |  | if the other state requires such an agreement before recognizing a | 
         
            |  | license to carry a handgun issued by this state [ under which a  | 
         
            |  | license issued by the other state is recognized in this state or  | 
         
            |  | shall issue a proclamation that a license issued by the other state  | 
         
            |  | is recognized in this state if the attorney general of the State of  | 
         
            |  | Texas determines that a background check of each applicant for a  | 
         
            |  | license issued by that state is initiated by state or local  | 
         
            |  | authorities or an agent of the state or local authorities before the  | 
         
            |  | license is issued.  For purposes of this subsection, "background  | 
         
            |  | check" means a search of the National Crime Information Center  | 
         
            |  | database and the Interstate Identification Index maintained by the  | 
         
            |  | Federal Bureau of Investigation].  The department shall publish on | 
         
            |  | its Internet website and annually update a list of states in which a | 
         
            |  | license to carry a handgun issued by this state is recognized. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 2.  Sections 411.173(c) and (d), Government Code, | 
         
            |  | are repealed. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | 
         
            |  | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | 
         
            |  | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this | 
         
            |  | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | 
         
            |  | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | 
         
            |  |  | 
         
            |  | * * * * * |