Relating to the renewal of a license to carry a handgun.
Summary
HB 668 amends Texas law governing the renewal of a license to carry a handgun. The bill requires a license holder seeking renewal to submit, on or before the first anniversary of the license’s expiration date, a renewal application on a department-provided form, a nonrefundable $40 renewal fee, and the required informational form signed or electronically acknowledged by the applicant. It also preserves the option to renew by mail or, if the department has adopted the applicable procedure, online.
The bill applies to handgun licenses that expire before, on, or after the effective date, making the change retroactive in application to all covered renewals. The act took effect immediately after enactment, indicating it received the necessary legislative approval for immediate effect, and it amends Section 411.185 of the Texas Government Code, which governs license-to-carry renewal procedures.
Impact
HB 668 changes the renewal process for Texas handgun carry licenses by updating statutory requirements in Government Code Section 411.185(a). It affects license holders renewing a license to carry a handgun, the Texas Department of Public Safety or other administering department, and the administrative process for renewal submissions and fees. The bill does not create a new licensing program, but it clarifies and codifies the renewal application, fee, and acknowledgment requirements and applies those changes to existing and future expirations.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received generally favorable support in both chambers, passing the House 125-20 and the Senate 24-7 on third reading, with additional procedural votes in the Senate also showing majority support. The margins suggest broad approval for the measure, though not unanimous agreement. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the recorded votes indicate the bill was not highly controversial overall.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the handgun licensing framework itself, including the continued requirement for a renewal fee and formal renewal paperwork for carry licenses. Opponents may have objected to the regulation of handgun carry or to the administrative burden and cost imposed on license holders, while supporters likely viewed the bill as a routine update to renewal procedures. The recorded nays in both chambers show some opposition, but the bill ultimately advanced with comfortable majorities.
Relating to the creation of an enhanced license designation for a license to carry a handgun and the locations in which the holder of that enhanced license may carry a handgun.
Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns by handgun license holders on the premises of certain polling places on the day of an election or while early voting is in progress.