HB1506

Regular Session

Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain retired county court judges.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Public Safety (Regulatory Services Division)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Note: This bill passed with a supermajority, triggering immediate effect upon signature, superseding standard September 1 dates found in earlier drafts).
Compliance Deadline: June 20, 2025 (Eligible applicants may file; County HR departments must be prepared to verify service records immediately).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) must update application forms to include this new category. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" between June 20 and the publication of updated DPS forms, during which manual processing may be required.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Update Security Manuals: Immediately revise workplace violence and weapon policies to account for the expanded definition of "Judicial Officer."
2. Issue HR Guidance: Instruct County HR teams to create a "48-Month Service Verification" template to handle incoming requests from former judges.
3. Audit Roster: Identify employees (arbitrators, mediators, consultants) who are former county judges and determine if their licensure status impacts your liability insurance.
4. Communicate Timing: Advise eligible staff not to apply before June 20, 2025; early applications will be processed under old laws and likely rejected or issued as standard licenses without the judicial status.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Employment Agreements: Review contracts for retired judges serving as "Of Counsel," mediators, or consultants. If agreements reference adherence to standard "weapon-free" workplace policies, determine if this statutory license creates an automatic exemption or if the contract requires an explicit amendment to authorize carry.
Lease Agreements: Verify if building leases contain absolute firearm prohibitions. While judicial officers have statutory defenses, these do not automatically nullify private property lease restrictions.

Hiring/Training

Security Protocols: Update site access protocols. Security personnel must be trained to recognize that "Retired County Judge" is now a valid credential for judicial carry exemptions, distinct from standard LTC holders.
HR Classifications: Update internal HR systems to track "Retired Judicial Officer" status for relevant employees, as this status often confers different insurance and liability profiles than standard employees.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Service Verification (County HR): County Human Resources and Clerk offices must prepare a standardized "Certification of Service" document. This document must explicitly attest that the individual served at least 48 months in a constitutional or statutory county court.
Credential Tracking: For private employers permitting carry, request and file a copy of the updated LTC reflecting the "Judge" designation to substantiate insurance coverage adjustments.

Fees & Costs

Applicant Fees: Eligible applicants qualify for the reduced "Judicial Officer" fee structure (typically $25 for 5 years), rather than the standard LTC fee.
Business Cost: Negligible. Potential minor administrative costs for record verification.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Verification Standards: The statute mandates a 48-month service requirement but does not define the specific evidence DPS must accept. Until DPS issues a formal rule or guidance, applicants risk rejection if they submit generic resumes. Strategy: Rely on certified letters from the County Clerk until DPS provides a specific form.
Definition of "Retired": The text requires the applicant to be a "retired judge." It is unclear if DPS will interpret this to require the individual to be formally drawing a pension from the County & District Retirement System of Texas (CDRS) or simply to have left office after the requisite time. Strategy: Assume the stricter interpretation (formal retirement status) for initial compliance checks.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCourts Courts--county & Statutory Courts--judges Weapons

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1506

By: Ashby

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the expedited process through which retired judicial officers may obtain a handgun license only applies to certain visiting judges, senior judges or other judicial officers, or retired federal judges who are Texas residents. However, the bill author has informed the committee that many retired judges have expressed an interest in expanding access to this expedited process to all current and retired judges. H.B. 1506 takes a step in this direction by expanding eligibility for an expedited handgun license to all retired judges of constitutional or statutory county courts who served at least four years on the bench.

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. 1506 amends the Government Code to expand the definition of "retired judicial officer" for purposes of statutory provisions establishing procedures for the issuance of a handgun license to those officers to include a retired judge of a constitutional county court or statutory county court who served at least 48 months in such a court. The bill applies only to an application for a handgun license submitted on or after the bill's effective date. An application submitted before the bill's effective date is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Trent AshbyRepublican · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Phil King (R)

Coauthors (3)

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1506

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain
	retired county court judges.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 411.201(a)(3), Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(3) "Retired judicial officer" means:
	(A) a visiting judge appointed under Section
	26.023 or 26.024;
	(B) a senior judge designated under Section
	75.001 or a judicial officer as designated or defined by Section
	75.001, 831.001, or 836.001; [or]
	(C) a retired federal judge who is a resident of
	this state; or
	(D) a retired judge of a constitutional county
	court or statutory county court who served at least 48 months in a
	constitutional county court or statutory county court.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an application for a license to carry a handgun submitted on or
	after the effective date of this Act. An application submitted
	before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
	effect on the date the application was submitted, and the former law
	is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 13, 2025

TO:	Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1506 by Ashby (Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain retired county court judges.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JMc, MGol, CSh, KVEL

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1506

What does Texas HB1506 do?

HB1506 amends the Texas Government Code to expand the "Retired Judicial Officer" classification for handgun licensing to include retired constitutional and statutory county court judges with at least 48 months of service. This legislation immediately expands the pool of individuals eligible for judicial security credentials, requiring updates to corporate security policies and HR verification protocols for entities employing former members of the judiciary. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Note: This bill passed with a supermajority, triggering immediate effect upon signature, superseding standard September 1 dates found in earlier drafts).

Who authored HB1506?

HB1506 was authored by Texas Representative Trent Ashby during the Regular Session.

When was HB1506 signed into law?

HB1506 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1506?

HB1506 is enforced by Texas Department of Public Safety (Regulatory Services Division).

How urgent is compliance with HB1506?

The compliance urgency for HB1506 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1506?

The cost impact of HB1506 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1506 address?

HB1506 addresses topics including courts, courts--county & statutory, courts--judges and weapons.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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