The bill, H.B. No. 1506, amends the Government Code to expand the definition of "retired judicial officer" to include certain retired judges of constitutional and statutory county courts. Specifically, it adds a new category for retired judges who have served at least 48 months in these courts, alongside existing categories that include visiting judges and senior judges. The previous language that allowed for a retired federal judge as a qualifying retired judicial officer is retained, but the option for a retired county court judge is now explicitly included.

The changes made by this bill will only apply to applications for a license to carry a handgun that are submitted on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025. Applications submitted before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law. This legislation aims to provide retired county court judges with the same rights as other retired judicial officers regarding handgun carry licenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 411.201 (Government Code 411)