Bernal Bill Makes Dealers Report Multiple Rifle Sales To DPS

The text as introduced · 431 words

89R3409 AJZ-F

By: Bernal
H.B. No. 479

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a licensed firearms dealer to report certain

sales or transfers of multiple rifles to law enforcement; creating

a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 6, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by

adding Chapter 205 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 205. REPORTS OF CERTAIN MULTIPLE TRANSFERS OF RIFLES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 205.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety

of the State of Texas.

(2) "Licensed firearms dealer" means a person who is

licensed as a firearms dealer under 18 U.S.C. Section 923.

(3) "Rifle" has the meaning assigned by 18 U.S.C.

Section 921. The term includes a semiautomatic rifle, as defined by

that section.

SUBCHAPTER B. REQUIRED REPORTING OF CERTAIN MULTIPLE SALES OR

TRANSFERS OF RIFLES

Sec. 205.051. REPORT BY LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER. (a) This

section applies only to a sale or transfer of two or more rifles

made to the same transferee, other than a licensed firearms dealer,

on a single occasion or on more than one occasion during a period of

five consecutive business days.

(b) A licensed firearms dealer shall report, in the form and

manner prescribed by the department, the multiple sales or

transfers described by Subsection (a) to:

(1) the department;

(2) if any of the applicable sales or transfers

occurred in a municipality, the police department of each

municipality in which the applicable sales or transfers occurred;

and

(3) if any of the applicable sales or transfers

occurred outside the boundaries of a municipality, the sheriff of

the county in which the applicable sales or transfers occurred.

Sec. 205.052. OFFENSE. (a) A licensed firearms dealer who

violates Section 205.051 commits an offense.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2025, the Department

of Public Safety shall develop the form for reporting multiple

rifle sales, as required by Section 205.051(b), Business & Commerce

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to the sale or transfer of a rifle that occurs on or after the

effective date of this Act. A sale or transfer of a rifle that

occurs 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.