HB 268

89S20396 AJZ-D
		By: Reynolds
  H.B. No. 268
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to the creation of certain criminal offenses concerning
  firearm sales at gun shows.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 46.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subdivisions (21) and (22) to read as follows:
               (21)  "Gun  show" means a place other than a permanent
  retail store, including a driveway, sidewalk or walkway, parking
  lot, or other parking area, or an event at which:
                     (A)  three or more individuals assemble to display
  firearms or firearm components to the public; and
                     (B)  a fee is charged for the privilege of
  displaying  the firearms or firearm components or a fee is charged
  for admission to the area where the firearms or components are
  displayed.
               (22)  "Gun show promoter" means a person who organizes,
  plans, promotes, or operates a gun show.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Sections 46.065 and 46.066 to read as follows:
         Sec. 46.065.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SALES AT GUN
  SHOWS.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  sells a firearm to another person in exchange for money or other
  consideration at a gun show without complying with the National
  Instant Criminal Background Check System in the manner required by
  18 U.S.C. Section 922 before completing the sale.  A person who
  conducts a criminal background check as required by this subsection
  may charge a fee in an amount equal to the cost incurred by the
  person to obtain the background check.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  sells a firearm to another person in exchange for money or other
  consideration at a gun show and the person does not maintain a
  record of the sale.
         (c)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a)
  that the person to whom the firearm is sold is:
               (1)  a peace officer; or
               (2)  a person who is licensed to carry a handgun under
  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
         (d)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 46.066.  CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO GUN SHOW
  PROMOTER.  (a)  A gun show promoter commits an offense if the
  promoter, with criminal negligence, permits the sale of a firearm
  to a person at a gun show organized, planned, promoted, or operated
  by the promoter without complying with the National Instant
  Criminal Background Check System in the manner required by 18
  U.S.C. Section 922 before completion of the sale.
         (b)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a)
  that the person to whom the firearm is sold is:
               (1)  a peace officer; or
               (2)  a person who is licensed to carry a handgun under
  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
         (c)  Not later than the 30th day before the date on which a
  gun show is held, the gun show promoter shall provide written notice
  of the date, time, and place of the gun show to the local law
  enforcement agency of the county or municipality in which the gun
  show will be held.
         (d)  A gun show promoter shall conduct, or arrange for a
  person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18 U.S.C. Section 923
  to conduct, an instant criminal background check in the manner
  required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922 on any person who purchases a
  firearm at a gun show organized, planned, promoted, or operated by
  the promoter from another person who is not a licensed firearms
  dealer under 18 U.S.C. Section 923.  A person who conducts a
  criminal background check as required by this subsection may charge
  a fee in an amount equal to the cost incurred by the person to obtain
  the background check.
         (e)  A gun show promoter shall prominently post a notice in a
  form prescribed by the Department of Public Safety stating the
  requirements under this section and Section 46.065 relating to an
  instant criminal background check.
         (f)  A gun show promoter commits an offense if the promoter
  violates Subsection (c), (d), or (e).
         (g)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         (h)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under Section 46.065, the actor may be
  prosecuted under either section or under both sections.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by Section 46.066(c),
  Penal Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a gun show held on
  or after January 1, 2026.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.