Employer Parking Lot Bill Passes Texas Senate

As pointed out by JT in the comments to an earlier post, the Texas Senate has passed SB730. SB 730 is an act relating to an employee ’s transportation and storage of certain firearms or ammunition while on certain property owned or controlled by the employee ’s employer. In other words, the "Employer Parking Lot" bill.

From the Houston Chronicle:

By David Saleh Rauf

State may loosen laws on storing guns

AUSTIN — Texans would be allowed to stow their guns and ammo inside their locked cars or trucks while at work and parked on employer property under a controversial bill passed Wednesday by the state Senate.

The Senate voted 31-0 to prohibit employers from enforcing restrictions against employees possessing a legally owned handgun or ammunition inside a locked vehicle while in a company parking lot. Firearms and ammo must be stored out of sight...

You know this has to chap the rabidly anti gun staff of the Chron's rear ends, especially since the bill passed with a vote of 31-0.

SB 730 was amended in committee to exempt school districts from this legislation. School employees will still be prohibited from leaving a firearm in the car on company property. That is an interesting exception for a couple of reasons. First is that a CHL holder who is not employed by the school can, in most cases, have a firearm in their vehicle on school property. Second, the fact that this exception was inserted in this bill does not bode well for our campus carry legislation. I guess we will have to see.

SB 730 is now in the Texas House. When you get a free moment, let your Senator know that you appreciate their vote supporting SB 730, and let your Representative know that you would like for them to support this important bill.

Edit: The link to SB 730 above is to the bill "as introduced". Here is the link to the bill that passed the Senate.