The Texas House of Representatives advanced SB 1596 on Second Reading early Tuesday morning, pushing a top Texas Gun Rights legislative priority closer to becoming law.

The bill, authored by Sen. Brent Hagenbuch and sponsored in the House by Rep. Richard Hayes, passed by a vote of 88 to 54, leaving only a procedural Third Reading before it heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signature.

What SB 1596 Does

SB 1596 removes short-barreled rifles (SBRs) — rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches — from Texas’ prohibited weapons list.

 

Currently, even if a firearm is legally owned under federal law, it remains illegal under state law, unless the owner qualifies for narrow exemptions.

This contradiction has confused gun owners and law enforcement alike, opening the door to unjust arrests and legal jeopardy — even for individuals in full compliance with federal regulations.

By eliminating SBRs from the state ban list, SB 1596 ensures that state and local police can no longer enforce an unconstitutional prohibition on firearms that are legal federally.

“This bill restores clarity and consistency — and eliminates traps for the law-abiding”  said Chris McNutt, President of Texas Gun Rights.

AR Pistol vs. SBR: A Legal Trap

One of the most confusing aspects of current law is the razor-thin cosmetic line between AR pistols and SBRs.

 

In many cases, the only difference is the type of brace or stock attached — a distinction that means everything to bureaucrats, but nothing to criminals.

That confusion has led to otherwise law-abiding gun owners being targeted by law enforcement, simply because they weren’t up to speed on federal versus state classifications.

SB 1596 erases that risk by preventing state or local officials from enforcing the SBR ban entirely.

Working Hand-in-Hand With the SHORT Act

SB 1596 also fits perfectly into a broader strategy to repeal federal restrictions on short-barreled rifles.

Texas Gun Rights is simultaneously pushing the SHORT Act in Congress — legislation that would remove SBRs from the National Firearms Act altogether, abolishing tax stamps, wait times, and ATF red tape.

Together, SB 1596 and the SHORT Act nullify government overreach at both the state and federal levels, allowing Americans to own the firearm configuration of their choice without fear of prosecution.

“The Constitution doesn’t say the right to bear arms depends on barrel length,” McNutt emphasized. “SB 1596 brings Texas law into alignment with our founding principles — and the SHORT Act will finish the job nationwide.”

SB 1596 now awaits a Third Reading in the Texas House — usually a formality — before heading to Governor Abbott.

 

Once signed, it would represent one of the most substantial pro-gun victories in the state this session.

Texas Gun Rights urges all supporters to contact their lawmakers immediately and demand a final YES vote.