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HB 658

Relating to the carrying of weapons by community supervision and corrections department officers, juvenile probation officers, and certain retired law enforcement officers and to criminal liability for taking a weapon from certain of those officers.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Carl Tepper

Texas bill expands firearm-carrying rights to probation and community supervision officers and criminalizes disarming them, affecting corrections staff safety protocols.

Referred to Criminal Justice
#crimes--againstpersons--general(i0170) #juvenileboards&officers(i0450) #lawenforcement(i0510) #peaceofficers(s0007) #weapons(i0887)
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Bill Summary · HB 658

Legislative bill overview

HB 658 expands weapon-carrying authority to community supervision officers, juvenile probation officers, and certain retired law enforcement officers in Texas. The bill also creates or modifies criminal liability statutes for unlawfully taking weapons from these designated officers.

Why is this important

This legislation affects public safety infrastructure by determining which correctional and probation personnel can carry firearms while performing their duties, and establishes legal consequences for disarming these officers. The changes impact both officer safety during interactions with individuals under supervision and the legal framework for prosecuting weapon-related offenses against these officials.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of armed authority: Disagreement over whether community supervision and juvenile probation officers should have the same weapon-carrying authority as sworn law enforcement, given differences in training and operational contexts
  • Criminal liability thresholds: Questions about whether new or modified penalties for disarming these officers are proportionate and clearly defined to avoid unintended prosecutions
  • Oversight and accountability: Concerns about whether expanded armed authority includes adequate training standards, use-of-force policies, and civilian oversight mechanisms for non-traditional law enforcement personnel

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

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