Bill Text: TX HB2249 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to authority of the governor and certain political subdivisions to regulate firearms, ammunition, knives, air guns, explosives, and combustibles and certain associated businesses during certain disasters and emergencies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Referred to State Affairs [HB2249 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB2249-Introduced.html
  87R5129 JCG-F
 
  By: Hefner H.B. No. 2249
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to authority of the governor and certain political
  subdivisions to regulate firearms, ammunition, knives, air guns,
  explosives, and combustibles and certain associated businesses
  during certain disasters and emergencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.003, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 418.003.  LIMITATIONS. This chapter does not:
               (1)  limit the governor's authority to apply for,
  administer, or expend any grant, gift, or payment in aid of disaster
  mitigation, preparedness, response, or recovery;
               (2)  interfere with the course or conduct of a labor
  dispute, except that actions otherwise authorized by this chapter
  or other laws may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate
  imminent or existing danger to public health or safety;
               (3)  interfere with dissemination of news or comment on
  public affairs, but any communications facility or organization,
  including radio and television stations, wire services, and
  newspapers, may be required to transmit or print public service
  messages furnishing information or instructions in connection with
  a disaster or potential disaster;
               (4)  affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of
  police forces, fire-fighting forces, units of the armed forces of
  the United States, or of any of their personnel when on active duty,
  but state, local, and interjurisdictional emergency management
  plans shall place reliance on the forces available for performance
  of functions related to disasters;
               (5)  except as provided by Section 418.184, authorize
  the seizure or confiscation of any firearm or ammunition from an
  individual who is lawfully carrying or possessing the firearm or
  ammunition; [or]
               (6)  limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the
  governor to proclaim martial law or exercise any other powers
  vested in the governor under the constitution or laws of this state
  independent of or in conjunction with any provisions of this
  chapter; or
               (7)  authorize any person to prohibit or restrict the
  business or operations of a firearms or ammunition manufacturer,
  distributor, wholesaler, supplier, or retailer or a sport shooting
  range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, in
  connection with a disaster.
         SECTION 2.  Section 418.019, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 418.019.  RESTRICTED SALE AND TRANSPORTATION OF
  MATERIALS. The governor may suspend or limit the sale, dispensing,
  or transportation of alcoholic beverages, [firearms,] explosives,
  and combustibles, other than explosives or combustibles that are
  components of firearm ammunition.
         SECTION 3.  Section 433.002(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The directive may provide for:
               (1)  control of public and private transportation in
  the affected area;
               (2)  designation of specific zones in the affected area
  in which, if necessary, the use and occupancy of buildings and
  vehicles may be controlled;
               (3)  control of the movement of persons;
               (4)  control of places of amusement or assembly;
               (5)  establishment of curfews;
               (6)  control of the sale, transportation, and use of
  alcoholic beverages[, weapons, and ammunition, except as provided
  by Section 433.0045]; and
               (7)  control of the storage, use, and transportation of
  explosives or flammable materials considered dangerous to public
  safety, other than explosives or flammable materials that are
  components of firearm ammunition.
         SECTION 4.  Section 433.0045(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A directive issued under this chapter may not:
               (1)  authorize the seizure or confiscation of any
  firearm or ammunition from an individual who is lawfully carrying
  or possessing the firearm or ammunition; or
               (2)  prohibit or restrict the business or operations of
  a firearms or ammunition manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler,
  supplier, or retailer or a sport shooting range, as defined by
  Section 250.001, Local Government Code, in connection with a state
  of emergency.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 229.001(b), (c), and (d-1), Local
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not affect the authority a
  municipality has under another law to:
               (1)  require residents or public employees to be armed
  for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another
  lawful purpose;
               (2)  regulate the discharge of firearms or air guns
  within the limits of the municipality, other than at a sport
  shooting range;
               (3)  except as provided by Subsection (b-1), adopt or
  enforce a generally applicable zoning ordinance, land use
  regulation, fire code, or business ordinance;
               (4)  [regulate the use of firearms, air guns, or knives
  in the case of an insurrection, riot, or natural disaster if the
  municipality finds the regulations necessary to protect public
  health and safety;
               [(5)]  regulate the storage or transportation of
  explosives to protect public health and safety, except that 25
  pounds or less of black powder for each private residence and 50
  pounds or less of black powder for each retail dealer are not
  subject to regulation;
               (5) [(6)]  regulate the carrying of a firearm or air
  gun by a person other than a person licensed to carry a handgun
  under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, at a:
                     (A)  public park;
                     (B)  public meeting of a municipality, county, or
  other governmental body;
                     (C)  political rally, parade, or official
  political meeting; or
                     (D)  nonfirearms-related school, college, or
  professional athletic event;
               (6) [(7)]  regulate the carrying of a firearm by a
  person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
  Government Code, in accordance with Section 411.209, Government
  Code;
               (7) [(8)]  regulate the hours of operation of a sport
  shooting range, except that the hours of operation may not be more
  limited than the least limited hours of operation of any other
  business in the municipality other than a business permitted or
  licensed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises
  consumption;
               (8) [(9)]  regulate the carrying of an air gun by a
  minor on:
                     (A)  public property; or
                     (B)  private property without consent of the
  property owner; or
               (9) [(10)]  except as provided by Subsection (d-1),
  regulate or prohibit an employee's carrying or possession of a
  firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition in the course of the
  employee's official duties.
         (c)  The exception provided by Subsection (b)(5) [(b)(6)]
  does not apply if the firearm or air gun is in or is carried to or
  from an area designated for use in a lawful hunting, fishing, or
  other sporting event and the firearm or air gun is of the type
  commonly used in the activity.
         (d-1)  The exception provided by Subsection (b)(9) [(b)(10)]
  does not authorize a municipality to regulate an employee's
  carrying or possession of a firearm in violation of Subchapter G,
  Chapter 52, Labor Code.
         SECTION 6.  Section 229.001(d), Local Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 7.  Chapters 418 and 433, Government Code, as
  amended by this Act, apply only to a declaration of disaster or
  local disaster or a proclamation of a state of emergency issued or
  renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A declaration or
  proclamation issued before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
  of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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