Texas Democrats began advancing a sweeping collection of gun control proposals after securing every statewide office on the ballot and a majority in the Texas House of Representatives during the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. The measures address firearm transfers, possession, purchases, and related criminal penalties for the 90th Legislature.

Prefiling opened on November 9. By mid November, Snopes had identified 25 bills related to firearms regulation, with the large majority sponsored by Democrats, while counts from advocacy organizations and news outlets ranged from roughly 20 to 35 measures.

The rush of anti Second Amendment proposals followed a campaign in which Democrats focused primarily on affordability and the cost of living. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate contest, and Democrats captured the lieutenant governorship and attorney general’s office.

Several of the first filings take aim at common firearm ownership practices. A bill from Houston Representative Ann Johnson would allow a family member, household member, or police officer to ask a judge to order the removal of someone’s firearms.

Second Amendment supporters have long described similar legislation in other states as “red flag laws.” Under Johnson’s proposal, a judge could issue a temporary order based only on paperwork alleging that a person poses an immediate danger because of a serious mental illness.

The gun owner would not have to be notified or receive a hearing before that initial order was issued. The person could be required to surrender the firearms, often within one day, with a full hearing scheduled later.

Such an order could remain in place for one year and could be renewed. Johnson’s legislation would also reverse a 2025 Texas law that largely blocked this type of process.

Other proposals center on firearm ownership by adults under 21. Multiple House bills, including measures from El Paso Representative Joe Moody and others, would make it a state jail felony to sell or transfer many ordinary semiautomatic rifles to people in that age group.

The 2027 Texas legislative session hasn't even begun, and lawmakers have already filed roughly 35 firearm-related bills, including proposals to:

- ban certain semi-automatic firearms - restrict gun ownership for adults under 21 - impose background checks on private sales - establish red flag laws — NRA (@NRA) November 10, 2026

The affected rifles include firearms larger than .22 caliber that accept detachable magazines. A separate bill filed by Sugar Land Representative Suleman Lalani would go further by prohibiting anyone under 21 from purchasing or possessing any firearm.

In the Senate, Laredo Senator Judith Zaffirini filed legislation that would impose similar purchase and possession restrictions on firearms categorized as “assault weapons.” The category is written to include many popular semiautomatic rifles with common features such as a pistol grip, along with certain pistols and shotguns.

Firearm advocates have long warned that “assault weapons” is not a defined term. They have also argued that the overwhelming majority of legislation using that label would effectively prohibit most privately owned semiautomatic firearms.

Other bills would reshape private firearm sales and dealer reporting requirements. Lalani filed a measure requiring most transfers between individuals to pass through a licensed dealer so that a background check could be conducted.

One of Moody’s bills would require dealers to notify state and local authorities whenever a person purchases two or more guns, or four or more magazines, within five business days. Another would compel certain people under protective orders or bond conditions to surrender every firearm they own within a specified number of days, even without a conviction.

Additional filings would prohibit making or sharing files used for guns produced through 3D printing. Other proposals would increase penalties when a child gains access to a firearm, broaden where reckless discharge charges may be brought, and permit cities to restrict firearms inside public libraries.

Gun rights organizations have already characterized the package as a coordinated campaign involving removal orders issued without an initial hearing, new age restrictions on widely owned rifles, background checks for private transfers, and dealer sales reports that critics describe as the beginning of a registry.

The NRA noted on November 10, 2026, that the 2027 Texas legislative session had not yet started even as lawmakers had filed roughly 35 firearm related bills. The organization highlighted proposals targeting certain semiautomatic firearms, adults under 21, and private sales.

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