BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2284 89R11674 JBD-F By: Hinojosa, Adam State Affairs 3/28/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT S.B. 2284 seeks to clarify and restrict the regulatory powers of municipalities and counties in Texas concerning firearms, air guns, archery equipment, and related supplies. The bill emphasizes that local governments are prohibited from enacting regulations that would affect the ownership, possession, use, and commerce of these items. It also provides further guidance on specific areas where municipalities and counties can implement regulations, including limitations on the discharge of firearms and carrying weapons in certain public areas. As proposed, S.B. 2284 amends current law relating to the authority of a municipality or county to regulate certain matters related to firearms, air guns, archery equipment, and other weapons and related supplies. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 229.001, Local Government Code, to read as follows: Sec. 229.001. FIREARMS; AIR GUNS; ARCHERY EQUIPMENT; KNIVES; EXPLOSIVES. SECTION 2. Amends Sections 229.001(a), (b), (b-1), (c), and (d), Local Government Code, as follows: (a) Prohibits a municipality, notwithstanding any other law, including Section 43.002 (Continuation of Land Use) of the Local Government Code and Chapter 251 (Effect of Nuisance Actions and Governmental Requirements on Certain Agricultural Operations), Agriculture Code, from adopting or enforcing regulations that relate to certain actions taken in relation to certain items, including archery equipment, or that require an owner of archery equipment to obtain liability insurance coverage for damages resulting from negligent or wilful acts involving the use of the archery equipment. Makes nonsubstantive changes. (b)-(b-1) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes to these subsections. (c) Provides that the exception provided by Subsection (b)(5) (relating to the authority of a municipality under law to regulate the carrying of certain items at certain public places and events) does not apply: (1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; or (2) to a person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H (License to Carry a Handgun), Chapter 411 (Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas), Government Code. (d) Makes conforming changes to this subsection. SECTION 3. Amends Section 229.001(e), Local Government Code, by adding Subdivision (2-a) to define "archery equipment." SECTION 4. Amends Section 235.042(a), Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court of a county, to promote the public safety, by order to prohibit or otherwise regulate hunting with bows and arrows on lots that are smaller than seven acres, rather than lots that are 10 acres or smaller, and are located in the unincorporated area of the county in a subdivision. SECTION 5. Amends the heading to Chapter 236, Local Government Code, to read as follows: CHAPTER 236. COUNTY REGULATION OF FIREARMS, ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, KNIVES, AMMUNITION, FIREARM SUPPLIES, AND SPORT SHOOTING RANGES SECTION 6. Amends Section 236.001, Local Government Code, by adding Subdivision (3) to define "archery equipment." SECTION 7. Amends the heading to Section 236.002, Local Government Code, to read as follows: Sec. 236.002. FIREARMS; AIR GUNS; ARCHERY EQUIPMENT; SPORT SHOOTING RANGE. SECTION 8. Amends Section 236.002(a), Local Government Code, as follows: (a) Prohibits a county, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, from adopting or enforcing regulations that relate to certain actions taken in relation to certain items, including archery equipment, or that require an owner of archery equipment to obtain liability insurance coverage for damages resulting from negligent or wilful acts involving the use of the archery equipment. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 9. Amends Sections 342.003(a) and (b), Local Government Code, to read as follows: (a) Authorizes the governing body of a Type A general-law municipality to take certain measures, including prohibiting or otherwise regulating the use of fireworks, rather than fireworks and firearms. (b) Makes a conforming change to this subsection. SECTION 10. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply to an ordinance, order, regulation, or other measure adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 11. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2284
89R11674 JBD-F By: Hinojosa, Adam
State Affairs
3/28/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2284
89R11674 JBD-F
By: Hinojosa, Adam
State Affairs
3/28/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 2284 seeks to clarify and restrict the regulatory powers of municipalities and counties in Texas concerning firearms, air guns, archery equipment, and related supplies. The bill emphasizes that local governments are prohibited from enacting regulations that would affect the ownership, possession, use, and commerce of these items. It also provides further guidance on specific areas where municipalities and counties can implement regulations, including limitations on the discharge of firearms and carrying weapons in certain public areas.
As proposed, S.B. 2284 amends current law relating to the authority of a municipality or county to regulate certain matters related to firearms, air guns, archery equipment, and other weapons and related supplies.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 229.001, Local Government Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 229.001. FIREARMS; AIR GUNS; ARCHERY EQUIPMENT; KNIVES; EXPLOSIVES.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 229.001(a), (b), (b-1), (c), and (d), Local Government Code, as follows:
(a) Prohibits a municipality, notwithstanding any other law, including Section 43.002 (Continuation of Land Use) of the Local Government Code and Chapter 251 (Effect of Nuisance Actions and Governmental Requirements on Certain Agricultural Operations), Agriculture Code, from adopting or enforcing regulations that relate to certain actions taken in relation to certain items, including archery equipment, or that require an owner of archery equipment to obtain liability insurance coverage for damages resulting from negligent or wilful acts involving the use of the archery equipment. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(b)-(b-1) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes to these subsections.
(c) Provides that the exception provided by Subsection (b)(5) (relating to the authority of a municipality under law to regulate the carrying of certain items at certain public places and events) does not apply:
(1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; or
(2) to a person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H (License to Carry a Handgun), Chapter 411 (Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas), Government Code.
(d) Makes conforming changes to this subsection.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 229.001(e), Local Government Code, by adding Subdivision (2-a) to define "archery equipment."
SECTION 4. Amends Section 235.042(a), Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court of a county, to promote the public safety, by order to prohibit or otherwise regulate hunting with bows and arrows on lots that are smaller than seven acres, rather than lots that are 10 acres or smaller, and are located in the unincorporated area of the county in a subdivision.
SECTION 5. Amends the heading to Chapter 236, Local Government Code, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 236. COUNTY REGULATION OF FIREARMS, ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, KNIVES, AMMUNITION, FIREARM SUPPLIES, AND SPORT SHOOTING RANGES
SECTION 6. Amends Section 236.001, Local Government Code, by adding Subdivision (3) to define "archery equipment."
SECTION 7. Amends the heading to Section 236.002, Local Government Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 236.002. FIREARMS; AIR GUNS; ARCHERY EQUIPMENT; SPORT SHOOTING RANGE.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 236.002(a), Local Government Code, as follows:
(a) Prohibits a county, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, from adopting or enforcing regulations that relate to certain actions taken in relation to certain items, including archery equipment, or that require an owner of archery equipment to obtain liability insurance coverage for damages resulting from negligent or wilful acts involving the use of the archery equipment. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 9. Amends Sections 342.003(a) and (b), Local Government Code, to read as follows:
(a) Authorizes the governing body of a Type A general-law municipality to take certain measures, including prohibiting or otherwise regulating the use of fireworks, rather than fireworks and firearms.
(b) Makes a conforming change to this subsection.
SECTION 10. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply to an ordinance, order, regulation, or other measure adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 11. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.