Monitoring the SessionHB 481
Died in committee
THE TEXT
“that the actor lawfully possessed the large-capacity magazine on”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The grandfather defense covers anyone who held a magazine lawfully the day before the law starts, so the possession ban mostly reaches only magazines acquired afterward. The transfer ban still applies in full, so the bill keeps real teeth.
The holeInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to creating a criminal offense for the unlawful possession or transfer of a large-capacity magazine.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Had one lawfully on August 31, 2025? That’s a defense. Transfers are banned outright.
The bill makes it an offense to knowingly possess, sell, give or otherwise transfer an ammunition magazine that holds more than 10 rounds, punished as a Class A misdemeanor. It touches gun owners, sellers and anyone handing a magazine to someone else, with defenses for on-duty peace officers and military members and an exclusion for .22 tube feeders, lever-action tubes and permanently disabled magazines. Starting September 1, 2025, transfers of these magazines are banned outright, while anyone who already lawfully had one on August 31, 2025 has a defense to the possession charge.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 632 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 632 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to creating a criminal offense for the unlawful possession or transfer of a large-capacity magazine.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB481 · 2024-11-12
relating to creating a criminal offense for the unlawful possession or transfer of a large-capacity magazine.
Had one lawfully on August 31, 2025? That’s a defense. Transfers are banned outright.
The bill makes it an offense to knowingly possess, sell, give or otherwise transfer an ammunition magazine that holds more than 10 rounds, punished as a Class A misdemeanor. It touches gun owners, sellers and anyone handing a magazine to someone else, with defenses for on-duty peace officers and military members and an exclusion for .22 tube feeders, lever-action tubes and permanently disabled magazines. Starting September 1, 2025, transfers of these magazines are banned outright, while anyone who already lawfully had one on August 31, 2025 has a defense to the possession charge.
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“that the actor lawfully possessed the large-capacity magazine on”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The grandfather defense covers anyone who held a magazine lawfully the day before the law starts, so the possession ban mostly reaches only magazines acquired afterward. The transfer ban still applies in full, so the bill keeps real teeth.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Nov 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
$7,000.00
Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 3, 2026 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on May 26, 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: 101059960.
$4,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Oct 1, 2025. 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: 100985189, 101032865.
$4,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Dec 13, 2024. 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: 100985189.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$7,000.00
Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 3, 2026 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on May 26, 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: 101059960.
$4,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Oct 1, 2025. 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: 100985189, 101032865.
$4,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Dec 13, 2024. 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: 100985189.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Meza, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 23, 2023: Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to creating a criminal offense for the unlawful possession or transfer of a large-capacity magazine.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
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 · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Weapons
The text as introduced · 311 words
89R4705 AJZ-D By: Meza H.B. No. 481 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to creating a criminal offense for the unlawful possession or transfer of a large-capacity magazine. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 46.056 to read as follows: Sec. 46.056. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OR TRANSFER OF LARGE-CAPACITY MAGAZINE. (a) In this section, "large-capacity magazine" means a detachable ammunition feeding device that has the capacity to accept, or can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds. The term does not include: (1) a .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device; (2) a tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm; (3) an ammunition feeding device that has been permanently disabled from accepting more than 10 rounds; or (4) a magazine that has been rendered permanently inoperable. (b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: (1) possesses a large-capacity magazine; or (2) sells, rents, leases, loans, gives, or otherwise transfers a large-capacity magazine to another person. (c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. (d) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor engaged in the conduct while engaged in the actual discharge of official duties, or directly en route to or from the person's place of assignment, as: (1) a peace officer; or (2) a member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code. (e) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (b)(1) that the actor lawfully possessed the large-capacity magazine on August 31, 2025. (f) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.