5 Big Wins for Gun Owners: Texas Pro-Gun Laws in 2025
While some states are trying to claw back your rights, Texas just doubled down on theirs. The NRA reported that over the weekend, Governor Greg Abbott approved five new Texas pro-gun laws, each one a win for personal liberty and the Second Amendment.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed 5 new Texas pro-gun laws over the weekend. Here he speaks at the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S., May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
The Lone Star State may not have pushed through every measure on the wishlist this session, but they made it clear: Texas still respects the rights of its citizens to keep and bear arms. For gun owners across the country, it’s not just a local victory; it’s a message.
Breaking Down the 5 New Texas Pro-Gun Laws
1. HB 1403 – Respect for Foster Families Who Exercise Their Rights
This bill protects foster parents from being forced to disclose what types of firearms they keep in their homes. It also ensures that information about firearms stays confidential. In short: no government list, no forced inventory. Owning a firearm to protect your family shouldn’t disqualify you from raising one.
2. SB 706 – Universal Recognition of Out-of-State Carry Licenses
If you’re traveling to Texas with a carry permit from another state, this bill makes sure your right to self-defense doesn’t get checked at the border. SB 706 aligns Texas’ License to Carry law with the existing permitless carry framework, adding clarity and consistency for residents and visitors alike.
3. SB 1362 – Blocking Unconstitutional Red Flag Orders
Texas doesn’t have a red flag law, and this bill makes sure it stays that way. It prohibits any recognition or enforcement of red flag orders unless explicitly authorized under Texas law. That means no surprise confiscations, no ex parte court orders stripping rights without due process.
We’ve said it before: due process isn’t optional. Gun owners shouldn’t have to prove they aren’t dangerous after the fact; they deserve a fair process before their rights are taken.
4. SB 1596 – Legalizing Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns at the State Level
These firearms are still regulated federally under the National Firearms Act, but Texas is no longer stacking its own restrictions on top. By removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from its list of prohibited weapons, Texas acknowledges the reality: these are common tools, often used by responsible Americans, and shouldn’t be criminalized at the state level.
5. SB 1718 – Incentivizing the NRA Annual Meeting in Texas
This bill makes the NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits eligible for the state’s Major Events Reimbursement Program. Not only does that help attract a major Second Amendment event to Texas, but it also brings millions in economic impact along with it. It’s a smart play that aligns economic and constitutional interests.
What Didn’t Pass—and What’s Next
There were still some missed opportunities. The legislature didn’t pass efforts to lower the carry age from 21 to 18, nor did it repeal carry bans in so-called “sensitive places” like K-12 schools, hospitals, and bars.
Those restrictions are already being challenged in court, and while Attorney General Ken Paxton has acknowledged they may not hold up under Bruen-style scrutiny, the state is still defending them in court.
That tension, that tug-of-war between political will and judicial review, is something gun owners everywhere should be watching.
The Big Picture
Texas didn’t just pass pro-gun laws; they passed a set of values. Each of these bills reinforces a central truth: you don’t need to trade away liberty for safety. You don’t have to fear your own citizens. And you don’t get to decide who is “safe enough” to exercise a right.
Gun owners in other states should take note. This is what a Second Amendment–respecting government looks like.
We’ve got a lot of work left to do in states that are still clinging to outdated permit systems, red flag orders, and anti-gun bias in their agencies. But moments like this give us momentum and a model to follow.
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