Bill > HB3065

This bill establishes new regulations for firearm buyback programs administered by local law enforcement agencies in Texas, specifically municipal police departments and sheriff's departments. Under the proposed law, when firearms are surrendered through these buyback programs, the agencies must ensure the firearms are completely destroyed, which means either fully melting, shredding, or crushing the firearm's receiver, frame, and component parts, or cutting at least three critical locations on the receiver and other major components. In a limited exception, agencies may sell a surrendered firearm to an individual, but only after conducting a mandatory national instant criminal background check through a licensed firearms dealer to verify that the potential buyer can legally possess a firearm. The bill also includes an accountability measure: if the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement determines that a law enforcement agency's chief administrator intentionally failed to destroy a firearm as required, disciplinary procedures will be initiated against that administrator. The law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, providing local agencies time to prepare for the new requirements.