89R5054 JTZ-D
	By: Eckhardt	S.B. No. 2156

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to firearm liability insurance for certain firearm owners;
	providing a civil penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 762 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 762. FIREARM LIABILITY INSURANCE
	Sec. 762.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section
	46.01, Penal Code.
	(2)  "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by
	Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
	Sec. 762.002.  REQUIRED FIREARM LIABILITY INSURANCE. (a)
	Except as otherwise provided by this section, a person who owns a
	firearm shall obtain and continuously maintain liability insurance
	in an amount of at least $100,000 to cover damages resulting from
	negligent or wilful acts involving the use of the firearm,
	including acts resulting in death, injury, or property damage.
	(b)  For purposes of this section, a person owns a lost or
	stolen firearm until the person reports the loss or theft to a law
	enforcement agency.
	(c)  A person is not required to maintain coverage under
	Subsection (a) for death, injury, or property damage incurred in an
	act of self-defense or defense of a third person under Subchapter C,
	Chapter 9, Penal Code.
	(d)  This section does not apply to an individual:
	(1)  employed as a peace officer;
	(2)  employed as private security and licensed under
	Chapter 1702, Occupations Code; or
	(3)  who is on active duty as a member of the United
	States military forces or state military forces and is authorized
	to possess a firearm.
	Sec. 762.003.  EVIDENCE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE.
	(a)  As a condition of owning a firearm in this state, a person on
	request shall provide to a peace officer evidence of liability
	insurance coverage by exhibiting:
	(1)  a liability insurance policy providing coverage
	for use of the firearm that satisfies the requirements of Section
	762.002 or a photocopy of the policy;
	(2)  an image displayed on a wireless communication
	device that includes the liability insurance information required
	by Section 762.002; or
	(3)  an insurance binder that confirms the individual
	is in compliance with this chapter.
	(b)  A person who does not exhibit evidence of liability
	insurance coverage under Subsection (a) is presumed to own the
	firearm in violation of Section 762.002.
	(c)  The display of an image that includes liability
	insurance information on a wireless communication device under
	Subsection (a)(2) does not constitute effective consent for a law
	enforcement officer, or any other person, to access the contents of
	the device except to view the liability insurance information.
	(d)  The authorization for liability insurance information
	to be displayed on a wireless communication device under Subsection
	(a)(2) does not prohibit:
	(1)  a court of competent jurisdiction from requiring a
	person to provide a paper copy of the person's evidence of liability
	insurance coverage in a hearing, trial, or discovery proceeding; or
	(2)  the commissioner of insurance from requiring a
	person to provide a paper copy of the person's evidence of liability
	insurance coverage for any inquiry or transaction conducted by or
	on behalf of the commissioner.
	(e)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
	51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to a person owning a
	firearm for the failure of a wireless communication device to
	display liability insurance information under Subsection (a)(2).
	Sec. 762.004.  CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a)  A person who
	violates Section 762.002 is liable for a civil penalty in an amount
	not to exceed $100,000.  The attorney general may bring an action to
	collect the civil penalty.
	(b)  In an action brought under Subsection (a), the attorney
	general may seek injunctive relief to restrain a person against
	whom the action is brought from possessing a firearm if the attorney
	general has previously collected a civil penalty under this section
	from the person.  An injunction issued under this subsection
	expires on:
	(1)  the first anniversary of the date the injunction
	is issued if the person has had one previous civil penalty imposed
	against the person under this section; or
	(2)  the second anniversary of the date the injunction
	is issued if the person has had more than one previous civil penalty
	imposed against the person under this section.
	SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding Section 762.002, Health and
	Safety Code, as added by this Act, a person is not required to
	comply with that section until November 1, 2025.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.