SB 1596: Short-barrel firearms leave the state’s prohibited weapons list

Caption

relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms.

Summary

The state definition is repealed. Earlier offenses remain under the former law.

This bill removes short-barrel firearms from the Texas Penal Code list of prohibited weapons and repeals the state definition of a short-barrel firearm. It touches anyone in Texas who possesses, makes, transports, repairs, or sells a short-barrel rifle or shotgun, since state law now makes that an offense unless the weapon is federally registered or exempt. Starting September 1, 2025, owning or dealing in a short-barrel firearm would no longer be a state offense, though any federal rules would still apply.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 2705 by Rep. Hayes (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.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1596 · 2025-02-24

SOLD BY

Sen. Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30

ITEM

relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms.

WHAT IT DOES

The state definition is repealed. Earlier offenses remain under the former law.

This bill removes short-barrel firearms from the Texas Penal Code list of prohibited weapons and repeals the state definition of a short-barrel firearm. It touches anyone in Texas who possesses, makes, transports, repairs, or sells a short-barrel rifle or shotgun, since state law now makes that an offense unless the weapon is federally registered or exempt. Starting September 1, 2025, owning or dealing in a short-barrel firearm would no longer be a state offense, though any federal rules would still apply.

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 12, 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

Feb 24, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 24, 2025Filed
Mar 10, 2025Read first time
Mar 10, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Mar 13, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 13, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 13, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 13, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 20, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 20, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Mar 24, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Mar 25, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 14, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 14, 2025Record vote
Apr 14, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 14, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Gutierrez
Apr 14, 2025Amendment fails of adoption
Apr 14, 2025Record vote
Apr 14, 2025Passed to engrossment
Apr 14, 2025Record vote
Apr 16, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 16, 2025Record vote
Apr 16, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 16, 2025Passed
Apr 16, 2025Record vote
Apr 16, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 17, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 22, 2025Read first time
Apr 22, 2025Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Apr 30, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 30, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 7, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 7, 2025Committee report distributed
May 8, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 22, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 24, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 27, 2025Read 2nd time
May 27, 2025Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 32(c)(2)
May 27, 2025Amendment tabled 1-Goodwin
May 27, 2025Record vote RV#3630
May 27, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 27, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 27, 2025Record vote RV#3631
May 27, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 27, 2025Read 3rd time
May 27, 2025Postponed 5/28/25 10:00 AM
May 27, 2025Record vote RV#3675
May 27, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Rules suspended
May 28, 2025Additional sponsor(s) authorized
May 28, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 28, 2025Passed
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3937
May 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025House passage reported
May 28, 2025Reported enrolled
May 30, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 87 yea · 52 nay

Senate · 21 yea · 10 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 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

Brent Hagenbuch

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50K Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25KJohn Kleinheinz$25,000

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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 15, 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$50,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.

Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00

Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.

John Kleinheinz$25,000.00

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.

×

Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.

Votes9

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 87
Nay: 52
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 2
Excused: 8

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3937

SB 1596 was passed by (Record 3937): 87 Yeas, 52 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 87 (published)
Nay: 52 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 8 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea: 109
Nay: 26
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 10
Excused: 3

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3675

Representative Hayes moved to postpone consideration of SB 1596 until 10 a.m. tomorrow. The motion prevailed by (Record 3675): 109 Yeas, 26 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 109 (published)
Nay: 26 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 10 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea: 88
Nay: 54
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 6
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3631

SB 1596 was passed to third reading by (Record 3631): 88 Yeas, 54 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 88 (published)
Nay: 54 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea: 87
Nay: 53
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 8
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3630

Representative Hayes moved to table Amendment No. 1. The motion to table prevailed by (Record 3630): 87 Yeas, 53 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 87 (published)
Nay: 53 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea: 21
Nay: 10
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 21 (published)
Nay: 10 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea: 21
Nay: 10
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1596 at this time on its third reading and final passage: SB 1596, Relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

Yea: 21 (published)
Nay: 10 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 14, 2025

Yea: 21
Nay: 10
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

SB 1596 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

Yea: 21 (published)
Nay: 10 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 14, 2025

Yea: 10
Nay: 21
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The amendment to SB 1596 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 21.

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

Yea: 10 (published)
Nay: 21 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 14, 2025

Yea: 21
Nay: 10
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1596 at this time on its second reading: SB 1596, Relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

Yea: 21 (published)
Nay: 10 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses15

For: 8
Against: 7
On: 0

Names

For

Self3 registrations
Self; Gun Owners of America2 registrations
Self; Texas Gun Rights2 registrations
Texas State Rifle Association1 registration

Against

Self3 registrations
Self; Community justice1 registration
Self; GIFFORDS1 registration
Self; League of Women Voters1 registration
Texas Gun Sense1 registration

Sources

15 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

Senate 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 12, 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 I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

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

88R HB 2705

by Rep. Hayes, different lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 11, 2023: Placed on General State Calendar

Relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 24, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

HB 259 by Hayes (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Weapons

Text

The text as introduced · 355 words

89R892 TSS-F

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 1596

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 46.05(a) and (d), Penal Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally

or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or

sells:

(1) any of the following items, unless the item is

registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer

Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and

Explosives or otherwise not subject to that registration

requirement or unless the item is classified as a curio or relic by

the United States Department of Justice:

(A) an explosive weapon; or

(B) a machine gun; [ or

[ (C) a short-barrel firearm; ]

(2) armor-piercing ammunition;

(3) a chemical dispensing device;

(4) a zip gun;

(5) a tire deflation device; or

(6) an improvised explosive device.

(d) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this

section that the actor's conduct:

(1) was incidental to dealing with a [ short-barrel

firearm or ] tire deflation device solely as an antique or curio;

(2) was incidental to dealing with armor-piercing

ammunition solely for the purpose of making the ammunition

available to an organization, agency, or institution listed in

Subsection (b); or

(3) was incidental to dealing with a tire deflation

device solely for the purpose of making the device available to an

organization, agency, or institution listed in Subsection (b).

SECTION 2. Section 46.01(10), Penal Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies 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 4. 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

Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC

House May 28, 2025

House May 27, 2025

House May 27, 2025

House May 27, 2025

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Senate Apr 14, 2025

Senate Apr 14, 2025

Senate Apr 14, 2025

For

Against

88R HB 2705

Companion