Texas House Bill HB1163

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to regulate locations at which a license holder may openly carry a handgun.

Impact

If enacted, the bill allows larger municipalities to implement local regulations on open carry that align with community preferences. Should a majority of voters decide in favor of such regulations, the governing body of the municipality would then adopt an ordinance to enforce the prohibition of visible carry. This change may lead to significant variations in handgun regulations across Texas, empowering communities to adopt measures that reflect local sentiments on safety and gun management.

Summary

House Bill 1163 seeks to amend the Local Government Code to grant municipalities with populations over 750,000 the authority to regulate whether license holders may openly carry handguns within their corporate boundaries. This legislative change enables a municipality to hold elections to determine if residents support prohibiting openly carried handguns, pending a petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters based on past election participation.

Contention

Notably, the introduction of HB 1163 could incite debate over the balance between state-level gun regulations and local governance. Proponents argue that cities should have the right to determine their own safety measures concerning firearms, while opponents might view this legislation as an attempt to undermine the rights of license holders and create a fragmented legal landscape. Additionally, concerns may arise around the potential for increased confusion regarding legality for gun owners traveling between jurisdictions that have different regulations.