The Texas Department of Public Safety has proposed new rules that would require applicants for handgun carry licenses and several other state-regulated permits to provide documentation verifying U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status through a federal database.
The proposed amendments were published in the Texas Register and would apply to both new and renewal applications for the state’s License to Carry program, as well as other licenses regulated by DPS.
Under the proposal, applicants would need to submit identification documents that can be verified through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program. The system verifies immigration or citizenship status but does not determine whether a person qualifies for a license or benefit.
Accepted forms of identification would include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, a U.S. passport, a foreign passport with a visa, a certified birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad, a certificate of naturalization or citizenship, a permanent resident card, or an immigrant visa containing temporary I-551 language and an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication System stamp.
Amanda Contrino, senior policy analyst for DPS’s Regulatory Services Division, said in the proposal that most eligible applicants are expected to possess one of the required documents already and that the agency does not anticipate significant economic impacts.
Contrino noted that applicants without qualifying identification could face costs to obtain documentation, including $22 for a certified copy of a Texas birth certificate, $33 for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, and $165 for a U.S. passport.
The proposal states those costs are necessary to comply with federal law and maintain “the integrity of the licensing and certification process.” DPS also said it does not expect the changes to create adverse economic effects for small businesses, micro-businesses, or rural communities.
The proposed rules would extend beyond handgun licenses to several other DPS-administered programs, including handgun instructor certifications, private security licenses, ignition interlock device vendors, vehicle inspection certifications, metals recycling registrations, and licensing connected to the state’s Compassionate-Use cannabis program.
The changes would not affect Texas’ permitless carry law, which has allowed most adults 21 and older who can legally possess a firearm to carry handguns openly or concealed without a license since 2021. The License to Carry program remains optional and offers additional benefits, including reciprocity agreements with some other states.
The SAVE program has also been used by other Texas agencies to verify eligibility for public programs, including affordable housing, Medicaid, and SNAP benefits. More recently, it was used in voter verification efforts.
In April, a civil rights organization sued Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson after the SAVE system was used to identify 2,724 “potential noncitizens” registered to vote. The lawsuit alleged the state failed to compare the information with citizenship records already held by DPS.
The proposal comes after a legislative session that included multiple firearm-related measures. Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 1596, authored by Sen. Brent Hagenbuch (R-Denton), addressing restrictions involving short-barreled rifles and shotguns. State Rep. Wesley Virdell (R-Brady) also introduced House Bill 1923, which sought to eliminate fingerprint requirements for handgun license applicants, but no action was taken on that bill.
Debates over firearm regulations in Texas have continued in recent years, including disputes surrounding gun restrictions at the State Fair of Texas after a 2023 shooting prompted organizers to ban firearms at the fairgrounds. Attorney General Ken Paxton later sued the City of Dallas and the State Fair over the policy, though a Dallas judge dismissed the case.
A 30-day public comment period on the proposed DPS rules is scheduled to end May 24. If approved, the changes could take effect later this year.
