Relating to adding a designation on a person's driver's license or commercial driver's license indicating that the person is licensed to carry a handgun.

89(R) HB 1696 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

89R7878 MZM-D

By: Canales, Metcalf, Virdell, Guillen

H.B. No. 1696

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to adding a designation on a person's driver's license or

commercial driver's license indicating that the person is licensed

to carry a handgun.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 507.001(b), Business & Commerce Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) This section does not affect:

(1) the requirement
to display a handgun license
under

Section 411.205, Government Code[
, that a person subject to that

section present a driver's license or identification certificate in

addition to a concealed handgun license
]; or

(2) the types of identification required under federal

law to access airport premises or pass through airport security.

SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 411.1795 to read as follows:

Sec.

411.1795.

DESIGNATION ON DRIVER'S LICENSE OR

COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE. The department shall adopt rules

allowing an applicant for an original, duplicate, modified, or

renewed license under this subchapter, in addition to being issued

an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license, to elect to

include on the person's driver's license or commercial driver's

license a designation indicating that the person is licensed under

this subchapter.

The rules must include procedures to ensure that a

person who makes an election under this section:

(1)

receives a designation on the person's driver's

license or commercial driver's license only if the person meets the

requirements for issuance of the original, duplicate, modified, or

renewed handgun license; and

(2)

maintains the designation only during the period

for which the person is licensed to carry a handgun under this

subchapter.

SECTION 3. Section 411.205, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.205. REQUIREMENT TO DISPLAY LICENSE. If a license

holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license holder's person

when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that the license holder

display identification, the license holder shall display:

(1)
either of the following:

(A)

the license holder's driver's license or

commercial driver's license that includes a handgun license

designation under Section 521.128 or 522.030, Transportation Code;

or

(B)
both the license holder's driver's license
,

commercial driver's license,
or
personal
identification

certificate issued by the department and the license holder's

handgun license; and

(2) if the license holder's handgun license bears a

protective order designation, a copy of the applicable court order

under which the license holder is protected.

SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.128 to read as follows:

Sec.

521.128.

HANDGUN LICENSE DESIGNATION.

The department

shall include on each driver's license issued to a person licensed

to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government

Code, who makes an election under Section 411.1795, Government

Code, a designation that shows the person is licensed under that

subchapter. The designation must include the person's handgun

license number and a statement of the period for which the handgun

license is effective.

SECTION 5. Section 522.030, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e)

The department shall include on each commercial

driver's license issued to a person licensed to carry a handgun

under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, who makes an

election under Section 411.1795, Government Code, a designation

that shows the person is licensed under that subchapter.

The

designation must include the person's handgun license number and a

statement of the period for which the handgun license is effective.

SECTION 6. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Department

of Public Safety shall adopt the rules required by Section

411.1795, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 7. (a) Section 411.1795, Government Code, as added

by this Act, applies only to an applicant for an original,

duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun under

Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, as amended by this Act,

who submits the application on or after January 1, 2026.

(b) The changes in law made by this Act to Chapters 521 and

522, Transportation Code, apply only to a driver's license or

commercial driver's license issued or renewed under Chapter 521 or

522, Transportation Code, on or after January 1, 2026.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.