| 1 | 1 | | By: Ramos H.B. No. 5185 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | relating to liability insurance for firearm ownership. |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | adding Subchapter T to read as follows: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SUBCHAPTER T |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR FIREARMS |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 411.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (1) "Firearm" means any weapon that is designed, made, |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | or adapted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive and |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | includes, but is not limited to, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | machine guns. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (2) "Liability insurance" means insurance coverage |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | that provides financial protection against lawsuits arising from |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | the use or ownership of a firearm. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Sec. 411.702. INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENT. (a) Every |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | owner of a firearm shall maintain liability insurance coverage in |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | an amount of not less than $100,000 per occurrence for injury to or |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | death of one person, and in an amount of not less than $300,000 for |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | injury to or death of two or more people, and in an amount of not |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | less than $50,000 for damage to property. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (b) The liability insurance coverage required by this |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | section shall be in effect at all times that the firearm is in the |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | possession of the owner. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Sec. 411.703. PROOF OF INSURANCE. (a) Every owner of a |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | firearm shall provide proof of insurance coverage as required by |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | this chapter to any law enforcement officer upon request. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (b) Every owner of a firearm in Texas shall provide proof of |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | insurance coverage to the department upon application for a |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | firearms license or renewal of a firearms license. |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | Sec. 411.704. EXCEPTIONS. This subchapter shall not apply |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | to members of the armed forces of the United States or the National |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Guard, when on duty, or to peace officers. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | Sec. 411.705. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES. (a) Any person |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | violation. |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (b) Any person who knowingly provides false proof of |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | insurance coverage shall be subject to a fine of not less than |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | $1,000 and not more than $10,000 for each violation. |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|