Relating to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses regarding the acquisition of firearms, firearm and ammunition smuggling, and terrorism.

89(R) HB 214 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Guillen

H.B. No. 214

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses regarding

the acquisition of firearms, firearm and ammunition smuggling, and

terrorism.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 46.06, Penal Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 46.06. UNLAWFUL TRANSFER
OR ACQUISITION
OF CERTAIN

WEAPONS.

SECTION 2. Sections 46.06(a) and (d), Penal Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to

any person knowing that the person to whom the handgun is to be

delivered intends to use it unlawfully or in the commission of an

unlawful act;

(2) intentionally or knowingly sells, rents, leases,

or gives or offers to sell, rent, lease, or give to any child

younger than 18 years of age any firearm, club, or

location-restricted knife;

(3) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sells a

firearm or ammunition for a firearm to any person who is

intoxicated;

(4) knowingly sells a firearm or ammunition for a

firearm to any person who has been convicted of a felony before the

fifth anniversary of the later of the following dates:

(A) the person's release from confinement

following conviction of the felony; or

(B) the person's release from supervision under

community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision following

conviction of the felony;

(5) sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to

any person knowing that an active protective order is directed to

the person to whom the handgun is to be delivered;

(6) knowingly purchases, rents, leases, or receives as

a loan or gift from another a handgun while an active protective

order is directed to the actor; [
or
]

(7) while prohibited from possessing a firearm under

state or federal law, knowingly makes a material false statement on

a form that is:

(A) required by state or federal law for the

purchase, sale, or other transfer of a firearm; and

(B) submitted to a firearms dealer licensed under

18 U.S.C. Section 923
; or

(8)

acquires a firearm with intent to deliver the

firearm to a person knowing that the person to whom the firearm is

to be delivered is prohibited from possessing the firearm by state

law
.

(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,

except that:

(1) an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a state jail

felony if the weapon that is the subject of the offense is a

handgun; and

(2) an offense under Subsection (a)(7)
or (8)
is a

state jail felony.

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 46.14, Penal Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 46.14. FIREARM
AND AMMUNITION
SMUGGLING.

SECTION 4. Section 46.14(a), Penal Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly

engages in the business of transporting or transferring a firearm

or ammunition for a firearm
that the person knows was acquired in

violation of the laws of any state or of the United States. For

purposes of this subsection, a person is considered to engage in the

business of transporting or transferring a firearm
or ammunition

for a firearm
if the person engages in that conduct:

(1) on more than one occasion; or

(2) for profit or any other form of remuneration.

SECTION 5. Section 76.02(a), Penal Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) commits or conspires to commit an offense under:

(A) Chapter 19;

(B) Section 20.02;

(C) Section 20.03;

(D) Section 20.04;

(E) Section 20.06;

(F)
[
(D)
] Section 20A.02;

(G)
[
(E)
] Section 22.02;

(H)
[
(F)
] Section 22.021;

(I)
[
(G)
] Section 22.05, if punishable as a

felony;

(J)
[
(H)
] Section 22.07, if punishable as a

felony;

(K)
[
(I)
] Section 22.09;

(L)
[
(J)
] Section 28.02;

(M)

Section 28.03, if the offense was committed

using a firearm or explosive weapon, as those terms are defined by

Section 46.01;

(N)
[
(K)
] Section 28.07, if punishable as a

felony;

(O)
[
(L)
] Section 29.03;

(P) Section 32.43;

(Q)

Section 32.51, if punishable as a felony of

the third degree or any higher category of offense;

(R) Section 33.02;

(S) Chapter 33A;

(T)

Section 37.11(a), if the public servant the

actor impersonates or conspires to impersonate is a peace officer;

(U)
[
(M)
] Section 38.152, if punishable as a

felony; [
or
]

(V)

Section 46.05(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), or

(a)(6);

(W)
[
(N)
] Section 46.08;

(X) Section 46.09; or

(Y) Section 46.14;
and

(2) commits or conspires to commit that offense with

the intent to:

(A) intimidate or coerce the public or a

substantial group of the public; or

(B) influence, by intimidation or coercion, the

policy, conduct, or activities of this state, a political

subdivision of this state, or the United States.

SECTION 6. 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 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.