89R11175 JSC-D
By: LaHood H.B. No. 2215
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the carrying or possession of a handgun by certain
retired attorneys representing the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.15(a), Penal Code, as amended by
Chapters 501 (H.B. 2291), 765 (H.B. 4504), and 1077 (S.B. 599), Acts
of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and
amended to read as follows:
(a) Sections 46.02 and 46.03 do not apply to:
(1) peace officers or special investigators under
Article 2A.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, and neither section
prohibits a peace officer or special investigator from carrying a
weapon in this state, including in an establishment in this state
serving the public, regardless of whether the peace officer or
special investigator is engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's or investigator's duties while carrying the weapon;
(2) parole officers, and neither section prohibits an
officer from carrying a weapon in this state if the officer is:
(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
(B) in compliance with policies and procedures
adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the
possession of a weapon by an officer while on duty;
(3) community supervision and corrections department
officers appointed or employed under Section 76.004, Government
Code, and neither section prohibits an officer from carrying a
weapon in this state if the officer is:
(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
(B) authorized to carry a weapon under Section
76.0051, Government Code;
(4) an active or retired judicial officer as defined
by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is licensed to carry a
handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(5) an honorably retired peace officer or other
qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined by 18 U.S.C.
Section 926C, who holds a certificate of proficiency issued under
Section 1701.357, Occupations Code, and is carrying a photo
identification that is issued by a federal, state, or local law
enforcement agency, as applicable, and that verifies that the
officer is an honorably retired peace officer or other qualified
retired law enforcement officer;
(6) the attorney general or a United States attorney,
district attorney, criminal district attorney, county attorney, or
municipal attorney who is licensed to carry a handgun under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(7) an assistant United States attorney, assistant
attorney general, assistant district attorney, assistant criminal
district attorney, or assistant county attorney who is licensed to
carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(8) a person who retired after serving as an attorney
described by Subdivision (6) or (7) and who is licensed to carry a
handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(9) a bailiff designated by an active judicial officer
as defined by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is:
(A) licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter
H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(B) engaged in escorting the judicial officer;
(10) [(9)] a juvenile probation officer who is
authorized to carry a firearm under Section 142.006, Human
Resources Code;
(11) [(10)] a person who is volunteer emergency
services personnel if the person is:
(A) carrying a handgun under the authority of
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(B) engaged in providing emergency services;
[or]
(12) [(11)] a person who:
(A) retired after serving as a judge or justice
described by Section 411.201(a)(1), Government Code; and
(B) is licensed to carry a handgun under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; or
(13) [(11)] a district or county clerk who is carrying
a handgun the clerk is licensed to carry under Subchapter H, Chapter
411, Government Code.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.
SECTION 3. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.