Monitoring the SessionHB 834
Died in committee
The population and border-adjacency descriptors aim the ban at a small set of large counties, and the second prong describes what reads as a single border county rather than naming it. The caption does say "certain counties," so the narrowing is partly disclosed.
Bracket billInitial 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 limiting the locations where a person may carry a firearm other than a handgun in certain counties; creating a criminal offense.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Plus a border county of over 800,000, described but never named.
The bill creates a new offense for carrying a rifle, shotgun, or other non-handgun firearm on or about your person in counties above certain population sizes, unless you are on your own property or in or heading to your own vehicle or boat. It touches long-gun owners in counties with more than 1 million people, plus one more county type: more than 800,000 people and next to only one other county on the international border. Starting September 1, 2025, carrying a long gun in public in those counties becomes an offense, with a defense for carrying with the owner's permission on private property or in a vehicle or boat not open to the public.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 244 (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 244 (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 limiting the locations where a person may carry a firearm other than a handgun in certain counties; creating a criminal offense.”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-HB834 · 2024-11-12
relating to limiting the locations where a person may carry a firearm other than a handgun in certain counties; creating a criminal offense.
Plus a border county of over 800,000, described but never named.
The bill creates a new offense for carrying a rifle, shotgun, or other non-handgun firearm on or about your person in counties above certain population sizes, unless you are on your own property or in or heading to your own vehicle or boat. It touches long-gun owners in counties with more than 1 million people, plus one more county type: more than 800,000 people and next to only one other county on the international border. Starting September 1, 2025, carrying a long gun in public in those counties becomes an offense, with a defense for carrying with the owner's permission on private property or in a vehicle or boat not open to the public.
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 55%
The population and border-adjacency descriptors aim the ban at a small set of large counties, and the second prong describes what reads as a single border county rather than naming it. The caption does say "certain counties," so the narrowing is partly disclosed.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
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 · Jul 2, 2024 to Jun 11, 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.
$10,000.00
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 Feb 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.
Report IDs: 100987101, 101032904, 101060248.
$8,000.00
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 · Sep 18, 2024 to Dec 10, 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: 100987101.
$7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 3, 2024 to May 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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.
Report IDs: 101060248.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$10,000.00
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 Feb 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.
Report IDs: 100987101, 101032904, 101060248.
$8,000.00
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 · Sep 18, 2024 to Dec 10, 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: 100987101.
$7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 3, 2024 to May 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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.
Report IDs: 101060248.
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. Bernal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 23, 2023: Referred to Community Safety, Select
Relating to limiting the locations where a person may carry a firearm other than a handgun in certain counties; creating a criminal offense.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/05/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM
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 · 383 words
By: Bernal H.B. No. 834 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to limiting the locations where a person may carry a firearm other than a handgun in certain counties; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 46.02, Penal Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-9) and (a-10) to read as follows: (a-9) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a firearm other than a handgun; (2) is in a county: (A) with a population of more than 1 million; or (B) with a population of more than 800,000 and is adjacent to only one other county located on an international border; and (3) is not: (A) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or (B) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control. (a-10) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a-9) that: (1) the actor was on a premises owned by another or was inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by another; (2) the owner of the premises, motor vehicle, or watercraft gave the actor verbal or written authorization to carry a firearm on the premises or in the motor vehicle or watercraft, as applicable; (3) carrying or possessing a firearm other than a handgun on those premises or in the motor vehicle or watercraft is not otherwise prohibited under this chapter or other law; and (4) the premises, vehicle, or watercraft is not open to or accessible by the public. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.