Relating to the carrying of a handgun by certain persons between 18 and 21 years of age.
Summary
HB 3584 would create a narrow exception to Texas’s general prohibition on carrying a handgun by people under 21. Under the bill, a person who is at least 18 years old could lawfully carry a handgun if they have completed both a handgun proficiency course under the Government Code and a hunter education course under the Parks and Wildlife Code. The bill does not broadly lower the handgun-carry age for all 18- to 20-year-olds; it ties eligibility to completion of both training requirements.
The bill would amend Section 46.15 of the Penal Code by adding a new subsection that limits the reach of Section 46.02(a) for this age group. It would apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and would not affect prosecutions for conduct occurring before that date. In practical terms, it would change who may be prosecuted for unlawful handgun carrying and would create a training-based pathway for some young adults to carry handguns legally.
Impact
HB 3584 would modify Texas criminal law governing unlawful carrying of a handgun by carving out an exception for certain 18- to 20-year-olds who complete specified firearm and hunter safety training. The bill would affect Penal Code Section 46.15 and, indirectly, the enforcement of Section 46.02(a) by removing some trained young adults from the category of persons prohibited from carrying handguns. It would also reinforce the role of state-approved handgun proficiency and hunter education programs as prerequisites for lawful carry by this age group.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so the available context does not show direct debate or recorded support/opposition. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a limited public-safety and training-based exception rather than a broad expansion of handgun carry rights. The absence of recorded votes or hearing remarks means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the supplied materials, but the bill’s structure suggests an attempt to balance access with training requirements.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is whether 18- to 20-year-olds should be allowed to carry handguns at all, even with training. Supporters would likely emphasize adult status at 18, training, and responsible firearm handling, while opponents may argue that the age restriction should remain in place for public safety reasons or that the added training requirements are not sufficient safeguards. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on both handgun proficiency and hunter education courses, which could be seen either as a meaningful competency standard or as an unnecessary barrier depending on the perspective.
Relating to the carrying of a handgun while intoxicated and to the possession or carrying of a handgun by a license holder in certain locations selling or serving alcoholic beverages.
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.