HB 644: Bell Bill Shields Businesses From Suits Over Allowing Concealed Handguns

Caption

relating to the civil liability of certain businesses in connection with allowing concealed handguns on the business premises.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

No sign, card or spoken warning against concealed carry means permission, and the shield follows.

The bill says a business that lets handgun license holders carry concealed handguns on its property cannot be sued just for giving that permission when damages come from the lawful carrying of the gun. It touches business owners and managers, licensed handgun carriers, and anyone who might sue a business after a harm tied to a licensed carrier. A business that gives no oral or written notice under Penal Code Section 30.06 counts as allowing entry. The shield applies to claims that accrue on or after September 1, 2025.

Corrected Oct 31, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 356 (Did not pass) 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 356 (Did not pass). 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.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 10, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the State Affairs committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB644 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Cecil Bell Jr.RHouse 3

Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17

Rep. Terry M. WilsonRHouse 20

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the civil liability of certain businesses in connection with allowing concealed handguns on the business premises.

WHAT IT DOES

No sign, card or spoken warning against concealed carry means permission, and the shield follows.

The bill says a business that lets handgun license holders carry concealed handguns on its property cannot be sued just for giving that permission when damages come from the lawful carrying of the gun. It touches business owners and managers, licensed handgun carriers, and anyone who might sue a business after a harm tied to a licensed carrier. A business that gives no oral or written notice under Penal Code Section 30.06 counts as allowing entry. The shield applies to claims that accrue on or after September 1, 2025.

Corrected Oct 31, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 10, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Mar 4, 2025Read first time
Mar 4, 2025Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Mar 12, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 12, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 12, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Mar 12, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 26, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 26, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 3, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 3, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 3, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 28, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 6, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 8, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 9, 2025Read 2nd time
May 9, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 32(c)(2)
May 9, 2025Passed to engrossment
May 9, 2025Record vote RV#1927
May 9, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 10, 2025Read 3rd time
May 10, 2025Passed
May 10, 2025Record vote RV#2010
May 10, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 10, 2025Reported engrossed
May 12, 2025Received from the House
May 12, 2025Read first time
May 12, 2025Referred to State Affairs

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“concealed handgun is not liable based solely on that permission for”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill creates a lawsuit shield for businesses that allow licensed concealed carry, limited to claims based only on that permission and to the lawful carrying of the handgun.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 94 yea · 36 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cecil Bell Jr.

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$303K DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN$84K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$84K

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 · Aug 30, 2024 to Apr 2, 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$303,416.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$303,416.00

Cash: $77,500.00
Paid by others: $225,916.00
Total: $303,416.00

mail $151,916.00advertising $57,250.00polling $16,750.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 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: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN$84,000.00

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

$84,000.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $9,000.00
Total: $84,000.00

polling $9,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$83,505.68

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$83,505.68

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $83,505.68
Total: $83,505.68

canvassing $50,000.00Other filed descriptions $24,666.67polling $7,750.00texting $1,089.01

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 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: 101041213, 101061435.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$303,416.00

Cash: $77,500.00
Paid by others: $225,916.00
Total: $303,416.00

mail $151,916.00advertising $57,250.00polling $16,750.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 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: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.

×

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

$84,000.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $9,000.00
Total: $84,000.00

polling $9,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$83,505.68

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $83,505.68
Total: $83,505.68

canvassing $50,000.00Other filed descriptions $24,666.67polling $7,750.00texting $1,089.01

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 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: 101041213, 101061435.

Votes2

House May 10, 2025

Yea: 94
Nay: 36
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 5
Excused: 14

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2010

HB 644 was passed by (Record 2010): 94 Yeas, 36 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 94 (published)
Nay: 36 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 14 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 9, 2025

Yea: 83
Nay: 47
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 8
Excused: 10

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1927

HB 644 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1927): 83 Yeas, 47 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 83 (published)
Nay: 47 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses5

For: 5
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

NFIB1 registration
Self2 registrations
Texas Credit Union Association1 registration
Texas State Rifle Association1 registration

Sources

5 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 10, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 356

by Rep. Cecil Bell, same lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 9, 2023: Committee report sent to Calendars

Relating to the civil liability of certain businesses in connection with allowing concealed handguns on the business premises.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/12/2025 S Referred to State Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Oct 31, 2026 at 4:38 PM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 6 aye, 5 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2620 by Creighton (identical)

Subjects

Business & Commerce--General

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Weapons

CONCEALED HANDGUNS

Text

The text as introduced · 266 words

89R1219 AJA-D

By: Bell of Montgomery
H.B. No. 644

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the civil liability of certain businesses in connection

with allowing concealed handguns on the business premises.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 95A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,

is amended by adding Section 95A.0002 to read as follows:

Sec. 95A.0002. LIABILITY OF BUSINESS IN CONNECTION WITH

ALLOWING CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (a) In this section, "license

holder" means a person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter

H, Chapter 411, Government Code.

(b) A person with control over the premises of a business

who allows entry on the premises by a license holder with a

concealed handgun is not liable based solely on that permission for

damages arising from the lawful carrying of a concealed handgun on

the premises by the license holder.

(c) For purposes of this section, the lack of an oral or

written communication that constitutes notice for purposes of

Section 30.06, Penal Code, is sufficient to constitute allowing

entry on the premises by a license holder with a concealed handgun.

SECTION 2. Section 95A.0002, Civil Practice and Remedies

Code, as added by this Act, does not apply to a cause of action that

accrued before the effective date of this Act. A cause of action

that accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by

the law applicable to the cause of action immediately before that

date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

House May 10, 2025

House May 9, 2025

For

88R HB 356

Companion