HB 1128

AN ACT relating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition

House Bill Isaac | Hefner | Patterson
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Allows licensed election judges, early voting clerks, and deputy early voting clerks to carry a concealed handgun while performing their official duties at polling places, which is currently prohibited. The legislation creates an exemption to existing state law that generally bans firearms at voting locations. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date, potentially increasing security options for election workers.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition
on the carrying of a concealed handgun at a polling place.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 46.15, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (s) to read as follows:
(s)  Section 46.03(a)(2) does not apply to a person who
carries a concealed handgun if the person:
(1)  is licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(2)  is engaged in the performance of the person's
(A)  an election judge under Chapter 32, Election
(B)  an early voting clerk or a deputy early
voting clerk who is serving as an election judge at an early voting
polling place under Chapter 83 or 85, Election Code.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition