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               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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               AN ACT
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            relating to the carrying of a handgun in a motor vehicle or  | 
         
         
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            watercraft. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Section 46.02(a-1), Penal Code, is amended to  | 
         
         
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            read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   (a-1)  A person commits an offense if the person  | 
         
         
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            intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or  | 
         
         
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            her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft [that is owned  | 
         
         
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            by the person or under the person's control] at any time in which: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  the handgun is in plain view, unless the person is  | 
         
         
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            21 years of age or older or is licensed to carry a handgun under  | 
         
         
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            Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and the handgun is  | 
         
         
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            carried in a holster; or | 
         
         
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                         (2)  the person is: | 
         
         
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                               (A)  engaged in criminal activity, other than a  | 
         
         
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            Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance  | 
         
         
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            regulating traffic or boating; or | 
         
         
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                               (B)  prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
         
         
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            a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
         
         
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            provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
         
         
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            Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
         
         
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            Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |