Texas: House Passes Sales Tax Holidays for Sportsmen

Lots of work still to be done on Pro-Second Amendment Issues

House Bill 849 establishes two state sales tax-free holidays for Texas sportsmen during the last weekend in August and October, before dove and deer seasons, respectively.  Thanks to the sponsor of the legislation, state Representative Chris Paddie (R-Tyler), for managing the issue on the House floor, and to state Representatives Drew Springer (R-Gainesville) and Jeff Leach (R-Plano) for filing similar bills this session.  Please take a moment to thank bill sponsor state Representative Chris Paddie (R-Tyler) for his hard work on this issue. 

Representative Chris Paddie (R-Tyler)
chris.paddie@house.state.tx.us 

Also, thank you to state Representatives Drew Springer (R-Gainesville) and Jeff Leach (R-Plano) for filing similar bills this session.

Critical issues, as listed below, still hang in the balance for the session, which ends on June 1.  Regardless of how much momentum these measures appear to have had early on in session, the fact remains that neither the Senate nor the House has taken final action on one another's bills - so none of them have crossed the goal line.  Please contact Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Joe Straus, your state Senator and state Representative and urge them to pass these important bills this year:

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R)
Comment Line: (512) 463-5342
Email: LTGConstituent.Affairs@ltgov.state.tx.us 

House Speaker Joe Straus (R)
(512) 463-1000
Email

House Bill 910/Senate Bill 17, sponsored by state Representative Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) and state Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) respectively, would allow law-abiding Texas CHLs to carry handguns visibly in a belt or shoulder holster, as 43 other states allow.

Senate Bill 11/House Bill 937, sponsored by state Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and state Representative Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) respectively, would allow law-abiding adult CHLs to carry concealed handguns for personal protection on public college and university campuses. 

Senate Bill 476/House Bill 1179, sponsored by state Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and state Representative Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) respectively, would require local law enforcement to act on certification for applications on NFA items (such as firearm sound suppressors).

Senate Joint Resolution 22/House Joint Resolution 61, sponsored by state Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and state Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) respectively, Constitutional Amendment legislation that would establish the individual Right to Hunt & Fish.

House Bill 849/Senate Bill 228, sponsored by state Representative Chris Paddie (R-Tyler) and state Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) respectively, is Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday legislation establishing tax-free weekends before hunting season.