Bill Text: TX HB234 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to extreme risk protective orders; creating criminal offenses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB234 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB234-Introduced.html

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89R1431 JSC-D
By: Johnson H.B. No. 234

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to extreme risk protective orders; creating criminal
offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDER
Art. 7B.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Bodily injury" and "serious bodily injury" have
the meanings assigned by Section 1.07, Penal Code.
(2) "Family," "family violence," and "household" have
the meanings assigned by Chapter 71, Family Code.
(3) "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section
46.01, Penal Code.
(4) "Local mental health authority" has the meaning
assigned by Section 571.003, Health and Safety Code.
(5) "Serious mental illness" has the meaning assigned
by Section 1355.001, Insurance Code.
Art. 7B.152. APPLICATION FOR EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDER.
(a) An application for a protective order under this subchapter may
be filed by:
(1) a member of the respondent's family or household;
(2) a parent, guardian, or conservator of a person who
is:
(A) under 18 years of age; and
(B) a member of the respondent's family or
household; or
(3) a peace officer.
(b) An application must:
(1) include:
(A) detailed allegations, based on personal
knowledge of a person described by Subsection (a), regarding any
dangerous behavior or conduct exhibited by the respondent as a
result of a serious mental illness, including any behavior or
conduct related to the respondent's use of firearms;
(B) any relevant medical or mental health
information concerning the respondent, including copies of
relevant medical or mental health records, if available;
(C) information concerning the quantity, type,
and location of any firearms the applicant believes to be in the
respondent's possession or control, if any;
(D) any other relevant facts indicating a need
for a protective order under this subchapter; and
(E) a statement that the applicant believes the
respondent poses an immediate and present danger of causing bodily
injury, serious bodily injury, or death to any person, including
the respondent, as a result of the respondent's serious mental
illness and access to firearms; and
(2) be signed by the applicant under an oath that, to
the knowledge and belief of the applicant, the facts and
circumstances contained in the application are true.
(c) An application for a protective order under this
subchapter may be filed in a district court, juvenile court having
the jurisdiction of a district court, statutory county court, or
constitutional county court in the county in which the applicant or
the respondent resides.
Art. 7B.153. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. On
receiving an application containing specific medical or mental
health information concerning the respondent, the court shall order
the clerk to:
(1) strike the information from the public records of
the court; and
(2) maintain a confidential record of the information
for use only by the court.
Art. 7B.154. TEMPORARY EX PARTE ORDER. (a) If the court
finds from the information contained in an application for a
protective order under this subchapter that there is reasonable
cause to believe that the respondent poses an immediate and present
danger of causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death to
any person, including the respondent, as a result of the
respondent's serious mental illness and access to firearms, the
court, without further notice to the respondent and without a
hearing, may issue a temporary ex parte order prohibiting the
respondent from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a
firearm.
(b) In a temporary ex parte order, the court may order the
respondent to:
(1) not later than 24 hours after the time the order is
issued, relinquish any firearms owned by or in the actual or
constructive possession or control of the respondent to a law
enforcement agency for holding in the manner provided by Article
18.192;
(2) if applicable, surrender to the court the
respondent's license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(3) for purposes of determining whether the respondent
has a serious mental illness, submit to an examination by the local
mental health authority or a disinterested expert who is qualified
to diagnose, and experienced in diagnosing, mental illness.
Art. 7B.155. HEARING; ISSUANCE OF PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a)
Not later than the 14th day after the later of the date an
application is filed or the date a temporary ex parte order is
issued, the court shall hold a hearing on the issuance of the
protective order.
(b) The court shall provide personal notice of the hearing
to the respondent.
(c) In determining whether to issue a protective order under
this article, the court:
(1) shall consider:
(A) the results of an examination described by
Article 7B.154(b)(3);
(B) any relevant medical or mental health
information concerning the respondent;
(C) any history of threats or acts of violence by
the respondent directed at any person, including the respondent;
(D) any history of the respondent using,
attempting to use, or threatening to use physical force against
another person;
(E) any recent violation by the respondent of an
order issued:
(i) under another provision of this chapter
or under Article 17.292;
(ii) under Section 6.504 or Chapter 85,
Family Code;
(iii) under Chapter 83, Family Code, if the
temporary ex parte order has been served on the respondent; or
(iv) by another jurisdiction as provided by
Chapter 88, Family Code;
(F) any arrest or conviction of the respondent
for:
(i) an offense under Section 42.072, Penal
Code; or
(ii) an offense involving violence,
including family violence;
(G) any conviction of the respondent for an
offense under Section 42.09, 42.091, or 42.092, Penal Code; and
(H) evidence related to the respondent's current
or recent abuse of a controlled substance or alcohol, not including
any evidence of previous treatment for or recovery from abusing a
controlled substance or alcohol; and
(2) may consider any other relevant factor including:
(A) any previous violation by the respondent of
an order described by Subdivision (1)(E); and
(B) evidence regarding the respondent's recent
acquisition of firearms, ammunition, or other deadly weapons.
(d) At the close of the hearing, if the court finds by clear
and convincing evidence that the respondent poses an immediate and
present danger of causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or
death to any person, including the respondent, as a result of the
respondent's serious mental illness and access to firearms, the
court shall issue a protective order that includes a statement of
the required finding.
(e) If the court does not make the finding described by
Subsection (d), the court shall, as applicable, rescind any
temporary ex parte order issued under Article 7B.154 and return the
respondent's license to carry a handgun.
Art. 7B.156. CONTENTS OF PROTECTIVE ORDER. In a protective
order issued under Article 7B.155, the court shall:
(1) prohibit the person who is subject to the order
from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm for
the duration of the order;
(2) order the person to:
(A) not later than 24 hours after the time the
order is issued, relinquish any firearms owned by or in the actual
or constructive possession or control of the person to a law
enforcement agency for holding in the manner provided by Article
18.192;
(B) if applicable, surrender to the court the
person's license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(C) if applicable, receive outpatient mental
health services if recommended by the local mental health authority
or expert after the authority or expert performs an examination
described by Article 7B.154(b)(3); and
(3) suspend a license to carry a handgun issued under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, that is held by the
person.
Art. 7B.157. DURATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) A
protective order issued under Article 7B.155 is effective until the
first anniversary of the date the order was issued.
(b) The court may renew a protective order issued under
Article 7B.155 for a period not to exceed one year after the order's
original expiration date. Before renewing the order the court must
hold a hearing after providing personal notice of the hearing to the
person who is the subject of the order.
(c) A person who is the subject of a protective order may
file a motion not earlier than the 91st day after the date on which
the order was initially issued or renewed, as applicable,
requesting that the court review the order and determine whether
there is a continuing need for the order. After a hearing on the
motion, if the court fails to make the finding that there is no
continuing need for the order, the order remains in effect until the
date the order expires as provided by this article.
(d) At a hearing to renew or rescind a protective order
under this article, the court shall consider the factors described
by Article 7B.155(c).
Art. 7B.158. NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. (a)
Not later than 24 hours after the time a protective order is issued
under Article 7B.155, the clerk of the issuing court shall provide
the following to the Department of Public Safety:
(1) the complete name, race, and sex of the person who
is the subject of the order;
(2) any known identifying number of the person,
including a social security number, driver's license number, or
state identification number;
(3) the person's date of birth;
(4) if surrendered to the court, the person's license
to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
Government Code; and
(5) a copy of the order suspending the person's license
to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government
Code.
(b) On receipt of an order suspending a license to carry a
handgun, the Department of Public Safety shall:
(1) record the suspension of the license in the
records of the department;
(2) report the suspension to local law enforcement
agencies, as appropriate; and
(3) if the license was not surrendered to the court,
demand surrender of the suspended license from the license holder.
(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date the
protective order is rescinded or expires under Article 7B.157, the
clerk of the issuing court shall notify the Department of Public
Safety of the rescission or expiration, as applicable.
Art. 7B.159. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Except as otherwise
provided by this subchapter and to the extent applicable, Title 4,
Family Code, applies to a protective order issued under this
subchapter.
SECTION 2. Chapter 18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 18.192 to read as follows:
Art. 18.192. HOLDING AND DISPOSITION OF FIREARM
RELINQUISHED UNDER EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) A law
enforcement officer who takes possession of a firearm from a person
who is the subject of an extreme risk protective order issued under
Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, shall immediately provide the person with
a written copy of the receipt for the firearm and a written notice
of the procedure for the return of a firearm under this article.
(b) Not later than the seventh day after the date a firearm
subject to disposition under this article is received, the law
enforcement agency holding the firearm shall notify the court that
issued the extreme risk protective order that the person who is the
subject of the order has relinquished the firearm.
(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date the extreme
risk protective order is rescinded or expires, the clerk of the
court shall notify the law enforcement agency of the rescission or
expiration.
(d) Not later than the 30th day after the date the law
enforcement agency holding a firearm subject to disposition under
this article receives the notice described by Subsection (c), the
law enforcement agency shall conduct a check of state and national
criminal history record information to verify whether the person
may lawfully possess a firearm under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) and
under the law of this state.
(e) If the check conducted under Subsection (d) verifies
that the person may lawfully possess a firearm, the law enforcement
agency shall provide to the person by certified mail written notice
stating that the firearm may be returned to the person if the person
submits a written request before the 121st day after the date of the
notice.
(f) An unclaimed firearm that is received under an extreme
risk protective order issued under Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, may
not be destroyed or forfeited to the state.
(g) The law enforcement agency holding the firearm may
provide for the firearm to be sold by a firearms dealer licensed
under 18 U.S.C. Section 923 if:
(1) the check conducted under Subsection (d) shows
that the person may not lawfully possess a firearm; or
(2) the notice is provided under Subsection (e) and
the person does not submit, before the 121st day after the date of
the notice, a written request for the return of the firearm.
(h) The proceeds from the sale of a firearm under this
article shall be paid to the owner of the seized firearm, less the
cost of administering this article with respect to the firearm.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.0522 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.0522. INFORMATION CONCERNING EXTREME RISK
PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) The department by rule shall establish a
procedure to provide information concerning a person who is the
subject of an extreme risk protective order issued under Subchapter
D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for inclusion in the National Instant Criminal
Background Check System.
(b) The procedure must require the department to provide any
information received under Article 7B.158, Code of Criminal
Procedure, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation not later than 24
hours after the time the department received the information.
SECTION 4. Section 411.172(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A person is eligible for a license to carry a handgun if
the person:
(1) is a legal resident of this state for the six-month
period preceding the date of application under this subchapter or
is otherwise eligible for a license under Section 411.173(a);
(2) is at least 21 years of age;
(3) has not been convicted of a felony;
(4) is not charged with the commission of a Class A or
Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense, or of an offense under
Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense, or of a felony
under an information or indictment;
(5) is not a fugitive from justice for a felony or a
Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense;
(6) is not a chemically dependent person;
(7) is not incapable of exercising sound judgment with
respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun;
(8) has not, in the five years preceding the date of
application, been convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or
equivalent offense or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal
Code, or equivalent offense;
(9) is fully qualified under applicable federal and
state law to purchase a handgun;
(10) has not been finally determined to be delinquent
in making a child support payment administered or collected by the
attorney general;
(11) has not been finally determined to be delinquent
in the payment of a tax or other money collected by the comptroller,
the tax collector of a political subdivision of the state, or any
agency or subdivision of the state;
(12) is not currently:
(A) restricted under a court protective order,
including an extreme risk protective order issued under Subchapter
D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(B) subject to a restraining order affecting the
spousal relationship, other than a restraining order solely
affecting property interests;
(13) has not, in the 10 years preceding the date of
application, been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent
conduct violating a penal law of the grade of felony; and
(14) has not made any material misrepresentation, or
failed to disclose any material fact, in an application submitted
pursuant to Section 411.174.
SECTION 5. Sections 411.187(a) and (c), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall suspend a license under this
section if the license holder:
(1) is charged with the commission of a Class A or
Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense, or of an offense under
Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense, or of a felony
under an information or indictment;
(2) fails to notify the department of a change of
address, name, or status as required by Section 411.181;
(3) commits an act of family violence and is the
subject of an active protective order rendered under Title 4,
Family Code; [or]
(4) is arrested for an offense involving family
violence or an offense under Section 42.072, Penal Code, and is the
subject of an order for emergency protection issued under Article
17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(5) is the subject of an active protective order
issued under Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c) The department shall suspend a license under this
section:
(1) for 30 days, if the person's license is subject to
suspension for the [a] reason listed in Subsection (a)(2)[, (3), or
(4), except as provided by Subdivision (2)];
(2) [for not less than one year and not more than three
years, if the person's license:
[(A) is subject to suspension for a reason listed
in Subsection (a), other than the reason listed in Subsection
(a)(1); and
[(B) has been previously suspended for the same
reason;
[(3)] until dismissal of the charges, if the person's
license is subject to suspension for the reason listed in
Subsection (a)(1); or
(3) [(4)] for the duration of or the period specified
by:
(A) the protective order issued under Title 4,
Family Code, if the person's license is subject to suspension for
the reason listed in Subsection (a)(3) [(a)(5)]; [or]
(B) the order for emergency protection issued
under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the person's
license is subject to suspension for the reason listed in
Subsection (a)(4); or
(C) the extreme risk protective order issued
under Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the
person's license is subject to suspension for the reason listed in
Subsection (a)(5) [(a)(6)].
SECTION 6. Chapter 37, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 37.083 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.083. FALSE REPORT REGARDING REQUEST FOR EXTREME
RISK PROTECTIVE ORDER. (a) A person commits an offense if, with
intent to deceive, the person makes a statement that the person
knows to be false to a peace officer relating to a request that the
officer file an application for an extreme risk protective order
under Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
SECTION 7. Section 46.04, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(c-1) A person commits an offense if, after receiving notice
that the person is subject to an extreme risk protective order
issued under Subchapter D, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure,
and before rescission or expiration of the order, the person
purchases, owns, possesses, or controls a firearm in violation of
the order.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree. An offense under Subsection (a-1), (b), [or] (c), or (c-1)
is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 8. Not later than October 1, 2025, the Department of
Public Safety shall adopt rules as required by Section 411.0522,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 9. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.