Overview
- State Democratic lawmakers submitted at least 23 firearm-related bills during the legislative pre‑filing window, creating a coordinated package that targets red-flag orders, private‑sale background checks, age limits, dealer reporting and local authority over carrying guns.
- House Bill 218, filed by Rep. Ann Johnson, would create a civil red-flag order allowing a court to temporarily bar someone from buying or possessing firearms and would repeal the 2025 Chapter 7C restriction on enforcement of such orders.
- Rep. Joe Moody’s HB 173 would bar transfers of certain semiautomatic rifles to people under 21 with carve-outs for peace officers, military members and short-term sporting loans, while Rep. Suleman Lalani’s HB 613 would require background checks for private transfers and make violations a Class A misdemeanor.
- HB 659 would require federally licensed dealers to report certain multiple sales or magazine transfers to law enforcement, and other filings would raise penalties for child access and expand local power to restrict carry on some public premises.
- Passage is uncertain because Republicans hold a slim Senate majority and statutory and constitutional limits prevent the governor from changing constitutional‑carry rules by executive order, so the bills now set up a partisan negotiation over what the 90th Legislature will actually consider.