Legislative Priorities
Every Texan deserves to be free from the threat of gun violence. We have a lot of work ahead but continue to build incremental progress. Texas Gun Sense’s 2025 Policy Agenda lays out the priorities we will advocate for in Austin to save lives in our state during the 89th Legislative Session and beyond.
EXPAND SECURE GUN STORAGE LAWS
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States and Texas. Firearms account for the majority of completed suicides, and Texas has the highest number of unintentional shootings annually. We must reduce risks associated with unsecured firearms and their impact on unintentional shootings, domestic violence, school shootings and suicide by requiring firearms be securely stored at home and in vehicles, where they are stolen at alarming rates. At minimum, Texas should improve its child access prevention law to deter adults from making firearms accessible to youth under 18.
Secure gun storage and suicide prevention bill(s) we are following: HB 528
RAISE THE AGE TO PURCHASE SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES
Texas Gun Sense will continue to support Uvalde parents in pushing for legislation to raise the age from 18 to 21 to purchase semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 used to murder their loved ones. Texans show strong support for raising the age: Seventy-six percent of voters – including 64% of Republicans – support raising the legal age to purchase any firearm from 18 to 21, to match Texas’ handgun requirements. Policies that raise the minimum age can also reduce suicide.
Raise the age bill(s) we are following: HB 1556
DEFEND AGAINST ROLLBACKS
In the past two decades, the Texas Legislature has approved more than 100 laws loosening gun regulations, even though the majority of Texans support common sense gun laws. During that period, firearm homicide and suicide rates increased to numbers not seen since the 1990s. Texas Gun Sense will defend against legislation that expands guns in our schools and other sensitive places, or that otherwise loosens restrictions that keep our communities safe.
Rollback bills we are following:
- HB 162: Prohibits state and local governments from recognizing extreme risk protection orders, a proven tool for preventing tragedies.
- HB 259: Removes short-barreled rifles and shotguns from Texas’ list of prohibited weapons.
- SB 83: Allows firearms on school property.
- HB 1337: Recognizes out-of-state carry licenses universally, further expanding who can carry firearms in Texas with minimal oversight.
Strategic Plan
While we focus on the regular legislative session that only occurs for five months every two years, Texas Gun Sense remains committed to the foundational work that creates systemic change. Therefore, we will utilize the following strategies for the legislative session and our broader advocacy work.
COALITION BUILDING
Texas Gun Sense will continue to lead the Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and remain a strong partner in the Invest In Us Texas Coalition. Through these collaborations, we will share resources, lead coalition strategy, and support partners in mental health, domestic violence, youth movements, and community violence intervention work to advance our shared goals of safe gun policies and investments in violence reduction.
MOBILIZING STAKEHOLDERS
Texas Gun Sense is mobilizing gun owners, healthcare professionals, survivors, and youth to actively engage in legislative advocacy at the Capitol and in their communities. We are training volunteers to meet with lawmakers, write letters to the editor, and activate their neworks. Our February 27th Advocacy Day at the Capitol will showcase the growing movement of supporters, experts, and advocates across the state.
SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE
Texas Gun Sense will continue its legacy of actively monitoring proposals around school safety, domestic violence, and suicide prevention to inject common sense gun violence prevention strategies into the broader conversation and advance gun safety measures both big and small. Throughout the legislative session and beyond, we will lead strategic messaging on comprehensive gun policies and grow our reach to the many Texans who support gun safety.
ADVANCING A LONG-TERM VISION
Texas Gun Sense will implement strategies to continue building support for long-term progress on expanded background checks, comprehensive safe gun storage policies, protections for domestic violence victims, and an Extreme Risk Protection Order.
January 2025