Legislation – 2025 Bills

2025 Gun Bills updated Sunday, 16 February at 4:39 pm

The 2025 Legislative session started 21 January and will end 7 March at midnight!

Keep up the good response to our Urgent Action Alerts!
On 2/1 and 2/6 two bad bills were stopped because of YOUR many contacts with the committee members by email or text message. In fact, the sponsor of the latter bill apologized to the committee for causing them to be flooded with contacts over his bill. And, the bill was not even considered at that meeting because he was busy making a new version of the bill totally removing the provisions we opposed.

THANK YOU!!

We are up to 25 gun bills this year, and many of the good ones are moving nicely, and the bad ones are being picked off in the sausage making process. More bills may be added in coming weeks.

See the list below for individual bills and their status.
YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.

BILL DETAILS- Click on the bill number in the first column for full text and status. This opens the official state page with full text of the bill, as well as current status and any pending changes.

Requires schools to give gun safety training three times in grades 1-6, twice in junior high and once in senior high schools. This has widespread support, although some teachers seem a bit hostile.
USSC supports, with concerns about the curriculum to be used, so it is true "gun safety" and not misguided anti-gun activism.
Assigned to House Education Committee on 2/5 adopted the 3rd Substitute was adopted and amended, and passed by the committee 9-2-5.
On 2/14 the full House adopted a 4th substitute and made an amendment and passed by voice vote.

Awaiting action by Senate.

A convoluted and weasel worded anti-gun bill doing nothing to juveniles who unlawfully access a gun, but punishes the owners.
Requires gun owners to lock up (safe or trigger lock(!!!) any loaded gun. If someone 16 or younger takes it the owner is guilty even if the thief is not charged. Worst of all, the prosecutor does not have to prove the firearm was loaded and not locked up, but the owner can fight that with an "affirmative defense" costing thousands in legal fees.
Another "safe storage" scheme that sounds good but is aimed at the gun owner, not the person who takes someone else's guns.
"It's not the guns, it's the criminals!"
USSC supports safe storage of guns and ammunition as determined by each gun owners individual circumstances and common sense, not a one size fits all "safe storage" scheme for everyone. We also support throwing people who illegally take guns into jail, regardless of their age.

Make it easier to get security devices by passing HB143 Firearm Safety Incentives.
Assigned to House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on 1/24. Not considered at hearing on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Committee "held" the bill on 2/12 with a vote of 6-4-1.
Committee motion to recommend failed 4-4-3 on 2/14.
Bill is likely dead for the session.

A massive 200+ page bill which recodifies existing dangerous weapons provisions. Basically gathering existing provisions on the subject and moving them to one location with no changes to the actual provisions of what is or is not legal, and penalties for offenses.
Rep. Lisonbee is a "rock star" supporter of gun rights.

House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee passed 1/24 after adopting an amendment with numerous corrections and revisions, but these appear to be legitimate necessary technical corrections which USSC supports. Passed 8-1-2. Pass by House 56-13-6 on 2/4.
Awaiting action by Senate.

A good approach to improve safe storage. This allows a non-refundable income tax credit of UP TO $50 for purchase of safe or gun locks, etc. $50 would cover a gun lock or two, but a small biometric safe or a real gun safe will cost hundreds. USSC recommends increasing the amount to $500, or at least $100- this is NON-REFUNDABLE so it is not "spending state money" just slightly reducing the amount of tax receipts from those who bother to claim it.

A 1st Substitute has been prepared (not adopted yet) which will instead crate as SALES TX HOLIDAY for the week of February 22nd on firearm safety devices and firearms storage containers. For a small handgun safe costing $100 this would save gun owners $8.25, but for a larger $1,000 gun safe they would save $82.50.
2/13 assigned to House Revenue and Taxation Committee. Hearing date not scheduled.

Makes it an "infraction" (about like a parking ticket) if someone under 18 merely possesses a toy gun with the federally required orange markings painted over. But, only if they have previously been given a warning IN WRITING by police that such possession is illegal.
This is mere possession only, not using it to threaten people or anything, just having it. And, it is not an offense for someone 18 or older to have the same thing.
No prosecutor would waste time going after this.

Stick to passing laws about serious problems which will actually be enforced!
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee adopted 1st Substitute on 2/6 on vote of 10-0-1, but did not vote to advance the bill, so effectively held in committee.
On 2/12 the committee adopted the 3rd Substitute, and passed favorably recommendation on a vote of 8-0-3.
Awaiting action by the full House.

Opposed because Lines 638-650 allow bans on target shooting in vast areas based on vague and undefined "public safety" grounds which is ripe for abuse. We understand that sometimes this may be justified, but there should be a statutory limit, maybe 90 or 180 days, and a requirement that the specific reasons be stated in a public record.

USSC supports increasing the number of designated target shooting areas throughout the state to concentrate shooting in safer locations. Even as simple as marking a safe backstop area, and providing a barrel for trash.
Remember, every shooter is responsible for every shot they fire anywhere.

USSC supports the sections dealing with night hunting of non-protected wildlife.
Assigned to House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee on 2/3. Hearing scheduled for Thursday 2/6 did not consider the bill.
A Substitute bill has been drafted removing the unacceptable provisions. If that substitute is approved to be considered by the Committee, USSC will either be neutral or support the revised bill.
Waiting for action by the committee.

A needless duplication of existing federal law on the same thing.

Creates a state criminal offenses of unlawful possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of a "machinegun firearm attachment" (e.g.- "Glock Switch")
This bill has problems with the definition; and absurdly makes it a 3rd degree felony if the perp is under 18 but only a class B misdemeanor if 18 or over, even though it is a serious federal felony.
And, there is no enhanced penalty if such a device is possessed or used during the commission of any other crime.
Since already covered by federal law, this bill is unnecessary. Instead, make possession of such a device while committing ANY other crime a separate felony offense.

Defeated in House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on 2/13. Dead for this session.

Modifies collection and reporting of data regarding crimes, prisoners, and also firearms.
Section dealing with "Untraceable firearms" is badly flawed, failing to recognize that serial numbers were NOT REQUIRED on firearms prior to the Gun Control Act of 1968.
That needs to be fixed before USSC can support this one.
Passed House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on 2/12 by vote of 9-0-2.
BILL STILL HAS THOSE PROBLEMS WHICH WILL GREATLY EXAGGERATE THE PERCEPTION of "UNTRACEABLE GUN" PROBLEMS.
Awaiting action by full House.

THIS IS A BAD BILL! This creates a $2 MILLION dollar slush fund for BCI, and raises fees for non-resident Concealed Firearm Permits by $25 for original application and renewals. Reportedly this is because: (1) The legislature has appropriated money from the BCI account to fund suicide prevention programs; (2) Revenue from CFP permits is way down because with "Constitutional Carry" people who can legally purchase a firearm can legally carry concealed without a permit. However, a CFP IS STILL NEEDED to carry on school grounds, eliminate the fee for background checks, or to enjoy reciprocity to carry in many other states; (3) BCI still assigns the same number of people to process CFPs despite the decreased workload. Worse, this creates a $2 MILLION dollar slush fund for BCI from overcharging for CFP permits. And then send half of anything over that to the suicide prevention program. We should not be overcharging for permits to exercise a Constitutional right, to start with. CFPs really should be issued upon request at NO CHARGE to the applicant, just like a voter registration card since any "poll tax" has already been declared to be unconstitutional. Suicide prevention is a worthwhile program, but should be funded from the general fund, not imposing a "sin tax" on a firearm related program. If a "sin tax" is somehow deemed appropriate then maybe fees should be applied to alcohol, and to pharmacy sales or automobiles since all those might be remotely connected to suicides. This also increases sex offender registry fees by $25, which USSC takes no position on. 2/14 passed House Public Utilities and Energy Committee by vote of 5-4-4. Awaiting action by full House.

A stinking pile of nearly every useless and unworkable gun control scheme so beloved by Democrats. Waiting periods, magazine bans, registration of semi-auto firearms, bans on semi automatic firearms, "Law enforcement only" markings required on mags and guns, illegal to possess any gun without serial numbers (which includes most inexpensive guns made prior to 1968). Etc.
It's not the guns, it's the criminals.
Defeated in Senate Natural Resources Committee 1-5-1, with only vote in favor coming from its sponsor..
THIS BAD BILL IS DEAD FOR THIS SESSION.

2025 Gun Bills updated Sunday, 16 February at 4:39 pm

The 2025 Legislative session started 21 January and will end 7 March at midnight!

THANK YOU!!

We are up to 25 gun bills this year, and many of the good ones are moving nicely, and the bad ones are being picked off in the sausage making process. More bills may be added in coming weeks.

See the list below for individual bills and their status.
YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.

Bill Number

Bill Title

Bill Sponsor

USSC Position

USSC Comments/ Status

2025 Gun Bills updated Sunday, 16 February at 4:39 pm

The 2025 Legislative session started 21 January and will end 7 March at midnight!

THANK YOU!!

We are up to 25 gun bills this year, and many of the good ones are moving nicely, and the bad ones are being picked off in the sausage making process. More bills may be added in coming weeks.

See the list below for individual bills and their status. YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.

Bill Number

Bill Title

Bill Sponsor

USSC Position

USSC Comments/ Status

See the list below for individual bills and their status.
YOUR contacting committee members, really makes a difference, along with our Lobbyist, Clark Aposhian.