Two high-profile bills related to handguns will have their first hearing in the Texas Senate on Feb. 12. One is a general “open carry” bill and the other measure is a “campus carry” bill specific to colleges and universities.
Senate Bill 11 by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) would allow would allow firearms to be carried on all public college and university campuses. Existing law allows people with a concealed handgun license to carry outdoors on campuses but not inside buildings.
All but one of the 20 Republicans in the Senate have signed onto the bill, with Joan Huffman of Houston being the only outlier. Supporters of the bill include Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) and Bob Hall (R-Edgewood).
Senate Bill 246 is authored by Estes, whose North Texas district includes eastern Collin County. That bill would allow people with concealed-carry licenses to carry holstered handguns in public. Eltife and Hall have also signed onto the bill. Current Texas law allows long guns to be carried in public, but not handguns, except for those with concealed-carry licenses.
The hearings will begin at 9 a.m., with testimonial limited to two minutes per speaker.
