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HB 2629

Relating to requiring a person convicted of an offense involving family violence or a person who is the subject of a protective order to surrender firearms owned by the person; authorizing a fee.

89th Legislature (2025)

Requires Texas residents convicted of family violence or under protective orders to surrender firearms; authorizes processing and storage fees.

Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
#courtadministration #officeof(v8690) #family--familyviolence(i0353) #lawenforcement(i0510) #protectiveorders(s0495) #weapons(i0887)
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Bill Summary · HB 2629

Legislative bill overview

HB 2629 would require individuals convicted of family violence offenses or those subject to protective orders to surrender their firearms to law enforcement. The bill also authorizes the state to charge a fee for processing and storing surrendered weapons.

Why is this important

Family violence situations present documented increased risks of lethality when firearms are present—research shows access to guns significantly escalates injury and fatality rates in domestic disputes. This directly affects public safety policy and how Texas addresses a leading cause of intimate partner homicide while also raising questions about implementation costs and due process procedures.

Potential points of contention

  • Second Amendment concerns: Gun rights advocates will likely argue the bill infringes on constitutional rights, particularly regarding the breadth of "protective order" subjects who haven't been convicted of crimes
  • Due process questions: How quickly must surrender occur, what are appeal mechanisms, and does the bill adequately protect against orders obtained in error or dismissed cases?
  • Implementation challenges: Who bears custody/storage costs, how long are weapons held, what happens to firearms if charges are dropped, and what fee amounts are reasonable without creating access barriers for lower-income individuals?
  • Protective order scope: Whether civil protective orders (which have lower evidentiary standards than criminal convictions) warrant the same firearm removal as criminal convictions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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