New legislation has been filed to stop governmental entities from restricting the Second Amendment rights of handgun license holders.
House Bill 1715 by State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) requires that contracts for the use of property owned or leased by a governmental entity include a provision prohibiting contractors from restricting handgun license holders from carrying firearms on the property.
Exceptions are made if other laws specifically prohibit the carrying of handguns on the property.
The legislation would apply to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or extended on or after September 1, 2025.
Cain’s legislation comes after the State Fair of Texas prohibited attendees from bringing firearms to last year’s event—even those with a license to carry.
Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the City of Dallas—which owns Fair Park where the State Fair is held—for banning firearms.
A Dallas judge ruled in favor of the ban, saying it could stay in place because there was insufficient evidence to prove the firearm ban violated state law. Paxton appealed the decision, but the Texas Supreme Court sided with the City of Dallas, keeping the ban in place.
Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt told Texas Scorecard that his organization appreciates Cain introducing legislation to preserve Second Amendment-protected rights.
“H.B. 1715 is a critical step in ensuring that Texans cannot be disarmed on taxpayer owned property. We warned the State Fair and other bad actors that if they proceeded with their anti-gun policies that we would address it in Austin. Now, we’re making good on our promise,” said McNutt. “We are grateful to Representative Cain for spearheading this issue with H.B. 1715, and continuing to be a stalwart champion for gun rights in Texas.”
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