Texas Senate Bill 11, 84th Legislature (SB11) was signed into law on June 13, 2015. The new law, also called “Campus Carry,” took effect on August 1, 2016 for 4-year universities and will take effect on August 1, 2017, for public junior colleges. It allows License to Carry holders the opportunity to carry a concealed handgun on all public university campuses in Texas. Texas Law outlines 14 requirements for obtaining a License to Carry, including being 21 years old, having no felony convictions, and demonstrating handgun proficiency. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas has almost one million License to Carry holders. Under Campus Carry, a Texas college may establish reasonable rules for carrying handguns and for storing them in on-campus residences, but may not establish any provisions that have the effect of prohibiting license holders from carrying concealed handguns on the campus of the institution.

Communication is key to effectively implementing this new law. Therefore, the following communication tools and information sources are recommended:

  • Conduct open forum meetings for employees and students
  • Create a webpage for individuals to use as a reference
  • Consider providing information in the syllabus on Campus Carry
  • Provide information to staff and students via Email
  • Look into existing laws prohibiting concealed weapons as a guide for determining exclusionary/prohibited areas (Texas Penal Code 46.03)
  • Provide a campus map of your exclusionary/prohibited areas
  • Train students and staff

Navigating Campus Carry’s requirements can be difficult. Consult your attorney for specific advice on how your institution can best abide by and implement this law.