SB890

Regular Session

Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain active and retired judicial officers.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025
*Note:* Security protocols must be updated by 12:01 AM on this date.
Agency Rulemaking: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will update application forms and verification procedures.
*Regulatory Gray Zone:* Expect a lag between the effective date and the issuance of updated physical LTC cards reflecting "Judicial" status for this newly eligible group.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Update Post Orders: Immediately revise security manuals to reflect the removal of Section 26.023/26.024 limitations for visiting judges.
2. Notify Vendors: Send a formal memorandum to your security contractor alerting them to the September 1 change and requiring confirmation of staff training.
3. Review Policies: Audit workplace violence and weapons policies to ensure "Judicial Officer" exemptions reference the *current* Government Code, rather than static definitions.
4. Prepare Escalation Protocols: Designate a point of contact for September 2025 to handle access disputes involving judicial officers carrying firearms without updated DPS cards.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Security Vendor Agreements: Review Statements of Work (SOW) and Post Orders for private security firms. You must amend instructions regarding weapons screening to ensure guards do not improperly attempt to disarm or deny entry to judicial officers qualifying under the new, broader definition.
Lease Agreements: For commercial tenants in secure buildings, ensure "No Weapons" clauses account for statutory exemptions granted to judicial officers to avoid breach of contract disputes.

Hiring/Training

Security Personnel: Front-line security staff must be retrained to identify valid judicial appointment paperwork. The previous requirement that visiting judges be appointed under specific sections (26.023 or 26.024) is void; staff must now accept *any* valid visiting judge appointment to county or probate courts.
Reception/Front Desk: Staff in law firms or arbitration centers must be trained on the updated exemption list to prevent friction with high-profile clients (judges) carrying firearms.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Incident Logs: Update security incident templates. If a firearm is detected and permitted based on this exemption, the log must cite the verification of the judicial credential, not just a standard LTC.

Fees & Costs

No Direct Fees: There are no new fees for businesses.
Operational Costs: Negligible administrative time required to update security manuals and training modules.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Credential Verification Gap:

The law is effective September 1, 2025, but DPS may not immediately issue updated LTC cards with the "Judge" designator to this newly eligible group.

The Risk: A visiting judge may present a standard LTC card combined with court appointment paperwork.
The Ambiguity: Security guards are not attorneys and may struggle to interpret court appointment orders.
Guidance: Establish a clear escalation protocol. If a visitor claims this exemption but lacks the specific "Judicial" LTC card, security should verify the appointment paperwork with a designated compliance officer or legal counsel rather than summarily denying entry.

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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

Senate Research Center	S.B. 890
89R1637 CJD-F	By: Paxton
	State Affairs
	2/18/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently in state statute, probate judges are not included in the list of active and retired judges who qualify for the expedited process to receive a concealed carry permit. This bill adds probate judges to the list.

As proposed, S.B. 890 amends current law relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain active and retired judicial officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 411.201(a)(1) and (3), Government Code, as follows:

(1) Provides that "active judicial officer" means certain persons, including a person serving as a judge or justice of a statutory probate court.

(3) Provides that "retired judicial officer" means certain judges, including a visiting judge appointed to serve as the judge of a constitutional county court, a statutory county court, or a statutory probate court, rather than a visiting judge appointed under certain sections of the Government Code.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Angela PaxtonRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (1)

Bob Hall (R)

House Sponsor

Rep. Cole HefnerRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 890

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
	active and retired judicial officers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Sections 411.201(a)(1) and (3), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(1) "Active judicial officer" means:
	(A) a person serving as a judge or justice of the
	supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, a
	district court, a criminal district court, a constitutional county
	court, a statutory county court, a statutory probate court, a
	justice court, or a municipal court;
	(B) a federal judge who is a resident of this
	state; or
	(C) a person appointed and serving as an
	associate judge under Chapter 201, Family Code.
	(3) "Retired judicial officer" means:
	(A) a visiting judge appointed to serve as the
	judge of a constitutional county court, a statutory county court,
	or a statutory probate court [~~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.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
	An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
	and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
	purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
	effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
	before that date.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


February 23, 2025

TO:	Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB890 by Paxton (Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain active and retired judicial officers.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend certain rules related to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun. It is assumed that any fiscal impacts associated with the bill would be insignificant.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

313 Department of Information Resources, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JMc, WP, CSh, KVEL

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB890

What does Texas SB890 do?

SB890 expands the statutory definition of "retired judicial officer" for License to Carry (LTC) eligibility, effectively broadening the class of individuals authorized to carry firearms in restricted areas. Entities controlling access to secure facilities—particularly courthouses, law firms, and government buildings—must update security screening protocols to recognize these new credentials, as the specific statutory limitations on visiting judges have been removed. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 Note: Security protocols must be updated by 12:01 AM on this date.

Who authored SB890?

SB890 was authored by Texas Senator Angela Paxton during the Regular Session.

When was SB890 signed into law?

SB890 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB890?

SB890 is enforced by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

How urgent is compliance with SB890?

The compliance urgency for SB890 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB890?

The cost impact of SB890 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB890 address?

SB890 addresses topics including courts, courts--county & statutory, courts--judges and weapons.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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