BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2881

By: Isaac

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas statute currently prohibits state agencies, political subdivisions, law enforcement officers, and other persons employed by a state agency or political subdivision from providing assistance to applicable federal entities in the enforcement of certain laws relating to firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunitions. The bill author has informed the committee, however, that this prohibition does not currently protect the entire expanse of actions that could be covered under the Second Amendment, specifically actions relating to the purchase of ammunitions. H.B. 2881 seeks to address this issue by broadening the federal laws covered under the prohibition, including laws that limit that amount of ammunition an individual is allowed to purchase and laws that require an individual to show identification when making such purchases.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2881 amends the Penal Code to expand the prohibition against a state agency, a political subdivision, a law enforcement officer, or any other person employed by a state agency or political subdivision contracting with or in any other manner providing assistance to a federal agency or official with respect to the enforcement of an applicable federal statute, order, rule, or regulation by including a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation that imposes a prohibition, restriction, or other regulation that does not exist under state law and relates to the following:

· a limitation on the amount of ammunition that may be purchased or otherwise obtained within a given period by a person who is not otherwise prohibited by state law from possessing the ammunition;

· a requirement that a person obtaining ammunition display identification;

· a limitation on the manufacture of ammunition by a person who is not otherwise prohibited by state law from possessing the ammunition; or

· a limitation on the purchase, sale, transfer, or possession of components necessary to manufacture ammunition.

The bill makes this prohibition inapplicable to a contract or agreement to provide assistance in the enforcement of a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation in effect on August 31, 2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.