HBA-DMH H.B. 1837 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1837 By: Denny County Affairs 7/16/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Growth in rural Texas may bring residents into closer proximity with a sport shooting range. Prior to the 77th Legislature, there were certain restrictions on the regulation of these ranges that prohibited a governmental official from seeking a civil or criminal penalty against a range or its owner or operator. House Bill 1837 extends that regulatory protection to include private clubs and associations and any businesses operating as sport shooting ranges. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1837 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a governmental official from seeking a civil or criminal penalty, or a person from bringing a nuisance or similar cause of action, against any business establishment, private club, or association that operates an area for the discharge or other use of firearms for specified types of recreational shooting (sport shooting range) or its owner or operator based on the violation of a municipal or county ordinance, order or rule regulating noise if the sport shooting range is in compliance with the applicable ordinance, order, or rule, or if no applicable noise ordinance, order, or rule exists. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.