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22h ago

Texas Legislature Passes SB1596 to End State Ban on Short-Barrel Firearms

On Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, SB1596 ends Texas’s ban on short-barrel firearms under state law, deferring instead to federal NFA controls.

The Texas State Capitol is seen on February 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
There's burst of smoke and ejecting shell as A.J. Wynne shoots a Heckler & Koch MP 5 short barrel rifle with a suppressor. A.J. Wynne is a former Marine who now works as a firearms instructor. He spent the afternoon target practicing with a variety of high-power weapons at a shooting range owned by the company he works for. He has strong opinions about what he thinks are government attempts to curtail the rights of gun owners. He has suffered from symptoms of PTSD in the past. Photo by (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty)
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Overview

  • SB1596 cleared the Texas House by an 87-52 vote following Senate approval, with only three Democrats joining Republicans in support.
  • If signed, the measure takes effect September 1, 2025, lifting the state-level ban on rifles under 16 inches and shotguns under 18 inches.
  • Owners would still face federal NFA requirements, including background checks, ATF registration and a $200 tax stamp.
  • Critics from Texas Gun Sense and survivors of the Santa Fe and Uvalde school shootings warned that loosening state rules could boost access to more lethal, concealable weapons.
  • Advocates such as Texas Gun Rights and the Texas State Rifle Association say the bill aligns state law with existing federal regulations and protects Second Amendment rights.