HB3053

Regular Session

Relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: August 31, 2025. All joint programs must be concluded, and sponsorship assets recovered, prior to this date.
Agency Rulemaking: No formal rulemaking is mandated. However, the Office of the Attorney General may issue advisory opinions clarifying the scope of prohibited "participation."

Immediate Action Plan

Audit Contracts: Immediately review all government relations and CSR agreements to identify commitments extending past August 2025.
Set Internal Deadline: Establish a "Go-Dark" date of July 1, 2025, for all buyback-related marketing and financial transfers to ensure clearance before the law takes effect.
Recover Assets: Send formal demand letters to municipal partners for the return of unspent sponsorship funds and gift card inventory.
Pivot Strategy: Instruct government affairs teams to propose alternative safety partnerships (e.g., safe storage education) to replace cancelled buyback programs.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Invoke "change in law" or *force majeure* clauses to terminate multi-year sponsorship agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), or venue leases with municipalities for buyback events scheduled after August 2025. Any contract requiring a city to organize such an event becomes legally void on the effective date.

Hiring/Training

Prohibit the hiring of off-duty municipal law enforcement officers for *private* buyback events until legal counsel confirms this does not constitute prohibited municipal "participation." Security protocols for private events must rely on private security firms to ensure total separation from government resources.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Maintain a strict audit trail documenting the termination of specific buyback partnerships. You must reconcile and recover any unredeemed corporate assets (e.g., donated gift cards, cash funds, vouchers) held by municipal partners. Ensure this reconciliation is completed and signed off before September 1, 2025.

Fees & Costs

Reallocate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budgets previously designated for buybacks. These funds should be directed toward legally permissible public safety initiatives, such as gun lock distribution or safety training, to preserve government relationships without violating the statute.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The statute prohibits a municipality from "participating" in a program but does not explicitly define the boundaries of participation regarding off-duty personnel or passive property leasing.

Risk: It is unclear if a private entity leasing a city parking lot or hiring off-duty officers constitutes municipal participation.
Guidance: Until the Attorney General issues an opinion, treat any use of municipal resources—even if paid for at fair market value—as a violation of the statute.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCity Government City Government--general County Government County Government--general Weapons

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3053

By: Virdell

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that firearm buyback programs have been implemented in various municipalities as an effort to reduce gun violence by allowing individuals to voluntarily surrender firearms, often in exchange for financial compensation or other incentives. The bill author has also informed the committee that supporters argue that these programs help remove unwanted firearms from circulation, potentially preventing crime, accidents, and suicides; however, critics contend that such programs are largely ineffective in reducing crime rates, as the firearms turned in are often older or non-functional, and criminals are unlikely to participate. According to a 2023 study by the Cato Institute, data from 1991 to 2015 showed no evidence that firearm buyback programs were effective at deterring gun crime in either the short or long term. The Rand Corporation determined in the same year that evidence for the effectiveness of firearm buyback programs is "thin." The Cato study further found that a small increase in gun crimes occurred during the two months following a firearm buyback program, which would be consistent with criminals understanding that the area is less secure due to the removal of firearms from law-abiding owners. H.B. 3053 seeks to address this issue and ensure a consistent statewide approach to firearm regulation by prohibiting municipalities and counties from organizing, sponsoring, or participating in firearm buyback programs.

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. 3053 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a municipality or county from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, order, or other measure in which the municipality or county organizes, sponsors, or participates in a program that purchases or offers to purchase firearms with the intent to remove firearms from circulation, reduce the number of firearms owned by civilians, or allow individuals to sell firearms without fear of criminal prosecution.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 3053

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 280, Local Government Code, is amended
	by adding Section 280.005 to read as follows:
	Sec. 280.005. FIREARM BUYBACK PROGRAMS PROHIBITED. A
	municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance,
	order, or other measure in which the municipality or county
	organizes, sponsors, or participates in a program that purchases or
	offers to purchase firearms with the intent to:
	(1) remove firearms from circulation;
	(2) reduce the number of firearms owned by civilians;
	or
	(3) allow individuals to sell firearms without fear of
	criminal prosecution.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, 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:	HB3053 by Virdell (Relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JMc, MGol, BC, CWi

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB3053

What does Texas HB3053 do?

HB3053 enacts a strict statutory prohibition on municipal and county organization, sponsorship, or participation in firearm buyback programs. Private sector partners—including corporate sponsors, event venues, and marketing agencies—must terminate all collaboration with local governments regarding these specific initiatives to avoid contractual invalidity and potential liability. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: August 31, 2025.

Who authored HB3053?

HB3053 was authored by Texas Representative Wesley Virdell during the Regular Session.

When was HB3053 signed into law?

HB3053 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

How urgent is compliance with HB3053?

The compliance urgency for HB3053 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB3053?

The cost impact of HB3053 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB3053 address?

HB3053 addresses topics including city government, city government--general, county government, county government--general and weapons.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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