Bill > HB1617

This bill seeks to exempt firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition manufactured entirely within Texas from federal regulation by establishing state-level protections based on constitutional interpretations of the Ninth, Tenth, and Second Amendments. Specifically, the bill creates a new chapter in the Texas Business & Commerce Code that defines "manufactured in this state" as items made from basic materials within Texas without using significant imported parts, and declares such items are not subject to federal interstate commerce regulations. The bill includes detailed definitions of terms like "firearm accessory" and establishes requirements such as stamping "Made in Texas" on manufactured firearms. It provides exceptions for certain types of weapons, including fully automatic firearms and large-bore weapons, and includes a provision that allows a Texas resident to request the Attorney General seek a federal court declaratory judgment confirming the law's constitutionality. The bill would apply only to firearms, accessories, and ammunition manufactured on or after its effective date, which would be immediate if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature, or September 1, 2025, if it does not meet that threshold. The underlying intent is to assert state sovereignty and protect intrastate firearm manufacturing from federal oversight.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1617