but does NOT Enact Knife Law Preemption
Summary of 2013 Texas Knife Law Changes
Effective September 1, 2013
Legal in the State of Texas to:
- Possess switchblades
- Manufacture switchblades
- Transport switchblades
- Repair switchblades
- Sell switchblades
Knife Preemption did NOT pass in 2013. The American Knife & Tool Institute advises caution. Some municipalities (including San Antonio) do have city ordinances with restrictions regarding knives, some with exceptions for hunting, fishing or occupational use.
Still illegal per Sec. 46.01(6)(C) are “dagger, including but not limited to dirk, stiletto and poniard.” There are no definitions for these knives in Texas law. Exercise caution as it is generally accepted that dagger includes any double-edged knife (and any double-edged switchblade would probably still be considered an illegal dagger).
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Governor Perry Signs Bill to Legalize Switchblades
UPDATE (June 14, 2013) – Thank you Governor Rick Perry for signing HB 1862. Effective September 1, 2013, it is no longer illegal to possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell switchblades in the state of Texas.
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Texas HB 1862 Passed Senate!
UPDATE (May 22, 2013) – The Texas Senate has voted to approve HB 1862. Thanks to everyone who reached out to their Senators this bill received all YAY votes. Governor Rick Perry has until the middle of June to sign the legislature. We have reached out to his office encouraging signing quickly in the interest of Texas residents and visitors.
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Texas Senate to Vote on Switchblade Bill
UPDATE ( May 15, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION – If you haven’t done so yet – NOW IS THE TIME to contact Texas state senators and ask for their YES vote on HB 1862 Call, write a letter or email them TODAY. Contact your state Senators.
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Switchblade Bill Scheduled for Public Hearing on 5/16/2013
UPDATE (May 15, 2013) – HB 1862 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee tomorrow, May 16, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Thanks to everyone who has contacted their Senators.
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Switchblade Bill in Senate Criminal Justice Committee
UPDATE (May 9, 2013) – The Texas bill to remove switchblade restrictions HB 1862 has been assigned to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Chair: Sen. John Whitmire
Vice Chair: Sen. Joan Huffman
Members: Sen. John Carona, Sen. Juan Hinojosa, Sen. Dan Patrick, Sen. José R. Rodríguez, Sen. Charles Schwertner
Contact Committee Members and your state Senators. Ask them to move HB 1862 to a vote and to support passage of this key legislative to expand the knives Texans and visitors have the right to possess, manufacture or sell.
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Switchblade Bill Heads to Senate
UPDATE (May 8, 2013)
HB 1862 to remove “switchblade” from the list of items illegal to possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell in the state of Texas passed the House yesterday by a vote of 141-1.
The Texas legislative session ends in June. If you live or work in Texas, take time now to contact your state Senators. Ask them to vote YES for HB 1862 for all Texas residents and anyone traveling to the Lone Star State.
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Knife Preemption Bill Placed on Calendar May 9
UPDATE (May 7, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION
Contact your Representatives and respectfully request that they vote YES for HB 1299.
HB 1299 introduced by Rep. Jonathan Strickland would enact knife law preemption and make sure that knife laws would be consistent throughout the state. For more information see About Knife Preemption.
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Committee on Calendars Needs to Schedule HB 1299
UPDATE (May 4, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION
TEXANS – Contact the Committee on Calendars to ask them to schedule HB 1299 NOW. The Texas legislative session is scheduled to end May 27th and this bill to enact knife preemption needs to be scheduled this weekend to be heard in the House.
You can send one email to the entire Committee (emails listed below to copy and paste). Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.
todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us
eddie.lucio_iii@house.state.tx.us
roberto.alonzo@house.state.tx.us
carol.alvarado@house.state.tx.us
dan.branch@house.state.tx.us
angie.button@house.state.tx.us
byron.cook@house.state.tx.us
myra.crownover@house.state.tx.us
sarah.davis@house.state.tx.us
craig.eiland@house.state.tx.us
john.frullo@house.state.tx.us
charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us
helen.giddings@house.state.tx.us
john.kuempel@house.state.tx.us
doug.miller@house.state.tx.us
Continue to Contact your Representatives and respectfully request that they support HB 1299 and vote YES on HB 1862.
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Monday, May 4th Texas House Vote on Switchblade Bill HB 1862
UPDATE (May 3, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION
Texans – Contact your Representatives NOW and respectfully request that they vote YES on HB 1862.
HB 1862 will remove the term “switchblade knife” from Section 4605 (a) which lists the items a person commits an offense for if they possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell, effective September 1, 2013.
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Texas Knife Preemption Moves to House
UPDATE (April 24, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION
HB 1229 has moved out of committee and is waiting to be scheduled for consideration in the Texas House.
Texans – Contact your Representatives NOW and respectfully request that they vote YES on HB 1229.
Explain you support this legislation that would eliminate any confusion about whether there is any additional laws regarding knives other than the state laws. For more information see About Knife Preemption.
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Switchblade Bill HB 1862 Moving to Texas House
UPDATE (April 18, 2013) – CALL TO ACTION
If passed in Texas, HB 1862 will remove the term “switchblade knife” from Section 4605 (a) which lists the items a person commits an offense for if they possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell, effective September 1, 2013.
Texans – Contact your Representatives NOW and respectfully request that they vote YES on HB 1862.
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Hearing Scheduled on Switchblade Bill – Contact Committee Members
UPDATE (April 5, 2013) – HB 1862 to decriminalize switchblades has been scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, April 9th by the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Room E2.016, State Capitol Building at 10:30 a.m. The American Knife & Tool Institute has contacted each committee member and the sponsor Rep. Dutton.
Texans should contact Committee Members and urge them to vote Yes. Tell them politely that switchblades are valuable tools, especially in emergency situations.
Rep. Abel Herrero – Abel.Herrero@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Stefani Carter – Stefani.Carter@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Lon Burnam – Lon.Burnam@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Terry Canales – Terry.Canales@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Bryan Hughes – Bryan.Hughes@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Jeff Leach – Jeff.Leach@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Joe Moody – Joe.Moody@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Matt Schaefer – Matt.Schaefer@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Steve Toth – Steve.Toth@house.state.tx.us
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Texas Knife Preemption Bill Needs Action – Contact Committee Members
UPDATE (March 14, 2013) – HB 1299 regarding knife law preemption was heard in public hearing yesterday and left pending in the House Urban Affairs Committees. Texans should contact committee members here and ask them to pass the bill to the House to vote on it.
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Two Important Knife Legislation Bills Introduced in the Lone Star State
San Antonio, TX (February 27, 2013) – The 83rd legislative session of the Lone Star State includes House Bill 1862 introduced by Rep. Harold V. Dutton (D-142) titled Switchblade Knife Criminal Consequences.
HB 1862 will remove the term “switchblade knife” from Section 4605 (a) which lists the items a person commits an offense for if they possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell. If passed, effective September 1, 2013 switchblades would not longer be illegal in the State of Texas.
HB 1299 introduced by Rep. Jonathan Strickland would enact knife law preemption and make sure that knife laws would be consistent throughout the state. For more information see About Knife Preemption.
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