HB 4357
Shofner Bill Requires A Warrant For Your Gun Purchase Records
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to requiring a search warrant to obtain or use certain purchase information in a criminal action.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Bank and card records of gun or ammo buys need a warrant. No warrant, no evidence.
The bill requires police to get a search warrant before they obtain or use bank, credit card or debit card records tied to the sale of a firearm or ammunition in a criminal case. It touches peace officers, prosecutors, judges and anyone whose gun or ammunition purchases show up in financial records. Starting September 1, 2025, those records need a sworn, probable-cause warrant from a judge in the officer's own district, and any record taken without one cannot be used in a criminal case.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4357 · 2025-03-11
SOLD BY
+ 5 coauthors
ITEM
relating to requiring a search warrant to obtain or use certain purchase information in a criminal action.
WHAT IT DOES
Bank and card records of gun or ammo buys need a warrant. No warrant, no evidence.
The bill requires police to get a search warrant before they obtain or use bank, credit card or debit card records tied to the sale of a firearm or ammunition in a criminal case. It touches peace officers, prosecutors, judges and anyone whose gun or ammunition purchases show up in financial records. Starting September 1, 2025, those records need a sworn, probable-cause warrant from a judge in the officer's own district, and any record taken without one cannot be used in a criminal case.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“A search warrant is required to obtain or use, in a criminal investigation or prosecution, a record of a bank account or credit or debit card relating to the sale of a firearm or ammunition.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill limits police access to financial records of gun and ammunition purchases by requiring a warrant, and it bars use of records taken without one.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 11, 2025
04/01/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Apr 1 2025 12:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--General
Weapons
SEARCH WARRANTS
Text
The text as introduced · 331 words
89R15755 CJD-D By: Shofner H.B. No. 4357 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to requiring a search warrant to obtain or use certain purchase information in a criminal action. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 18.25 to read as follows: Art. 18.25. WARRANT REQUIRED FOR USE OF CERTAIN PURCHASE INFORMATION. (a) In this section, "firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section 46.01, Penal Code. (b) A search warrant is required to obtain or use, in a criminal investigation or prosecution, a record of a bank account or credit or debit card relating to the sale of a firearm or ammunition. (c) A search warrant under this article may be issued only by a judge, including a judge of a statutory county court, in the same judicial district as the site of the law enforcement agency that employs the peace officer who is applying for the warrant. (d) A judge may issue a search warrant under this article only on the application of a peace officer. An application must be in writing and signed and sworn to or affirmed before the judge. The application must: (1) state the name, department, agency, and address of the applicant; (2) identify the record to be searched for and seized; (3) state the name of the individual whose activity is described by the record; (4) state the judicial district in which the law enforcement agency that employs the peace officer is located; and (5) state the facts and circumstances that provide the applicant with probable cause to believe that: (A) criminal activity has been, is, or will be committed; and (B) the record is likely to produce evidence in the investigation of the criminal activity described in Paragraph (A). (e) A record acquired without a search warrant under this article is not admissible in a criminal action. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.