Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Texas Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
S.B. No. 1596 AN ACT relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 46.05(a) and (d), Penal Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells: (1) any of the following items, unless the item is registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or otherwise not subject to that registration requirement or unless the item is classified as a curio or relic by the United States Department of Justice: (A) an explosive weapon; or (B) a machine gun; [or [(C) a short-barrel firearm;] (2) armor-piercing ammunition; (3) a chemical dispensing device; (4) a zip gun; (5) a tire deflation device; or (6) an improvised explosive device. (d) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor's conduct: (1) was incidental to dealing with a [short-barrel firearm or] tire deflation device solely as an antique or curio; (2) was incidental to dealing with armor-piercing ammunition solely for the purpose of making the ammunition available to an organization, agency, or institution listed in Subsection (b); or (3) was incidental to dealing with a tire deflation device solely for the purpose of making the device available to an organization, agency, or institution listed in Subsection (b). SECTION 2. Section 46.01(10), Penal Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. 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 occurred before that date. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1596 passed the Senate on April 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1596 passed the House on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 87, Nays 52, one present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor
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