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House passes ‘Houston Hunter’ bill offering liability protection for voluntary firearm surrender program
Summary
Lawmakers approved HB 216, which gives liability protections to federal firearms licensees that temporarily accept firearms from service members, veterans, first responders or others who voluntarily surrender weapons during periods of suicidal ideation. Sponsors emphasized the voluntary nature of the program and limited liability scope.
The House approved House Bill 216, known on the floor as the Houston Hunter Act, to offer limited liability protection to federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that participate in a voluntary firearm surrender program for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
Representative Betsall, the sponsor, described the bill as aimed at saving lives by giving people a safe, temporary way to separate from their firearm while they seek help. “The Houston Hunter Act is simple. It provides liability protection to any gun dealer who holds their federal firearms license, who chooses to participate in a program where members of the military, military veterans, first responders, or anyone in the community may voluntarily surrender their weapon to a secure safe if they are experiencing suicidal ideations,” Betsall told the House.
Members clarified that surrender must be voluntary and initiated by the individual experiencing crisis; Representative Yarbrough asked and received confirmation that the person turning over the gun must be the person in distress, not a third‑party seizure. The committee substitute narrowed participation to licensed FFLs and limited the liability protection to the act of returning the firearm when the person requests it back.
Supporters said the bill will not function as a red‑flag law or a compulsion mechanism; rather, it is a narrowly drawn immunity to encourage participation by licensed dealers and create a secure option for people in crisis. The House adopted the substitute and passed the bill by recorded vote.
