Campus Carry Information

The Texas "Campus Carry Law" allows persons with a state mandated license to carry (LTC) to carry a concealed handgun in certain areas on campus so long as the area has not been designated by the University as an exclusion zone. In compliance with state law and University policy, individuals who do not possess a valid license to carry a handgun are prohibited from carrying handguns on campus.

The University's campus carry policy that lists the areas designated as exclusion zones can be found here:

• UHCL Campus Carry Policy
• UHCL Campus Carry Exclusion Zones

Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (the Campus Carry law) allows the carrying of handguns by license holders on college campuses. While the University President may not generally prohibit license holders from carrying concealed weapons on the campus, the law gives public universities some discretion to regulate campus carry including designating certain areas on campus where concealed handguns are prohibited. The University's campus carry policy that lists the areas designated as exclusion zones can be found here:

• UHCL Campus Carry Policy
• UHCL Campus Carry Exclusion Zones

A handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person. 

No. In compliance with state law and University policy, individuals who do not possess a valid license to carry a handgun are and will continue to be prohibited from carrying handguns on campus.

This prohibition is in compliance with Texas House Bill No. 1927 (H.B. 1927), which is titled the Firearm Carry Act of 2021, and is sometimes referred to as the "Permitless Carry" law or the "Constitutional Carry" law. H.B. 1927 amends Texas Penal Code 46.02 and 46.03 to allow persons to carry handguns without a license in certain places and under certain circumstances; University campuses are listed as locations that are exceptions under the Firearm Carry Act of 2021. 

Texas law only makes it legal for individuals with a license to carry (LTC) to carry handguns on campus. Since LTCs do not permit rifles and other weapons, those items remain prohibited. All other weapons besides handguns are strictly prohibited for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including long guns, knives with blades longer than 5.5 inches, brass knuckles, clubs, and explosives. Their possession on campus is grounds for immediate criminal and disciplinary action.

No, the Campus Carry law addresses only concealed handgun carry on college campuses, and does NOT allow open carry. Thus, under Texas law, it will continue to be illegal to display a firearm inside campus buildings or on campus streets, parking lots, sidewalks, walkways, etc.

"Campus Carry" refers to Texas legislation which allows individuals with a valid license to carry a handgun (LTC) to carry concealed handguns on a University campus so long as the area has not been designated by the University as an exclusion zone.

"Open Carry" refers to Texas legislation which allows an individual to visibly, or "openly" carry a holstered handgun in public places. The Open Carry legislation has some exceptions, including university campuses. Open Carry is prohibited on the University campus and any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area of the University.

The Campus Carry Law gives universities the ability to determine when and where carrying a concealed firearm is and is not appropriate on their campus. In accordance with Texas Government Code 411.2031, those determinations had to be made with feedback from the university community. Texas public higher education institutions may prohibit concealed handgun license holders from carrying handguns by creating exclusion zones on certain areas of campus. 

View Designated Exclusion Zones

As indicated in the Campus Carry policy, the criteria to establish an exclusion zone include:

• Campus areas used for day care and school activities, including areas frequently used by minor children.
• Health care facilities similar to hospitals used for patient care, counseling and mental health services.
• Areas used for sporting or interscholastic events. 
• Established places of religious worship. 
• Polling places. 
• Laboratory areas where dangerous materials and equipment or research animals are present.
• University housing.
• Spaces used for discussions of grievances or disciplinary hearings or meetings. (These exclusions may be permanent or temporary based on usage of the spaces.)
• Areas containing critical university infrastructure.
• Areas where contractual or licensing obligations require the exclusion of firearms.
• An assigned employee office for which the employee has demonstrated that the carrying of a concealed handgun by a license holder in the office presents a Significant Risk of Substantial Harm due to a negligent discharge of the handgun, and the president or president’s designee has approved the employee's request that the office be designated as an area where licensed concealed carry of a handgun is not permitted.
• Large-scale performance or sports venues during ticketed events, if a temporary exclusion is obtained pursuant one of the provisions of the following paragraph.
• Areas where there are Reasonably Justified Safety Concerns on a Temporary Basis.  These exclusions are limited to the following circumstances:
  • Where the requestor provides credible evidence that a concealed handgun on the particular premise creates a special danger;
  • For dignitary protection of public officials, judges, candidates, or public figures, upon a showing of credible evidence that there is a particular threat to security;
  • For activities which have a demonstrated history of violence;
  • For large-scale activities where the presence of alcohol, specific safety considerations, the uniqueness of the campus environment, or the specific threat of violence in conjunction with the activity, present a reasonable threat to health or safety.
• Other areas prohibited by state or federal law.

The link to UHCL exclusion zones can be found here:

UHCL Exclusion Zones

Specific Exclusion Zones can be found here.

In compliance with Texas Penal Code 30.06,the University provides notice to the University community of exclusion zone locations through any of the following methods:

• Posting a sign on or near entrances to buildings where the entire building is excluded
• Placing notices on doors or other areas inside or outside buildings where some, but not all of the building is an exclusion zone
• Providing cards to individuals

Additionally, the University ensures that the University community is informed of exclusion zones even prior to arriving on campus by maintaining a list of Exclusion Zones by Building Number and Name, and by providing information in the student handbook, student life materials, ticketed events materials, flyers for events, e-mail communications to the University community, as well as via training provided to University faculty, staff, and students.

No. In accordance with Texas law, only the University President by policy can designate areas as exclusion zones. University community members cannot designate their own exclusion zones. The University does not authorize any member of the University community to post their own signs or notices or individually choose an area to post signs or notices.

The campus carry law permits individuals with a license to carry, including university faculty and staff, to carry a concealed handgun so long as it is done consistent with the University's campus carry policy. A supervisor cannot prohibit an individual, including an employee that they supervise, from carrying a concealed handgun so long as it is done consistent with the University's campus carry policy. 

Unless an employee is required to carry a firearm as part of the employee's specific job duties (i.e., Police Officer), any possession or use of a firearm by the employee is not considered to be within the scope of employment with the University. As such, any employee who chooses to use a firearm is acting in the employee’s individual capacity and not as an agent of the University.

Additionally, employees who decide to carry a concealed handgun must be aware that he or she must still be able to perform all assigned duties and responsibilities in areas on campus and must plan appropriately for the legal storage of any handgun. In other words, disciplinary action up to and including termination may result if an employee is not able to perform their job duties and functions because the area they are assigned to perform work (or the work that they are assigned to perform) is in an exclusion zone and the employee is carrying a handgun.

A person who fails to comply with the concealed handgun rules and regulations prescribed by the University will be in violation of the Texas Penal Code, and criminal charges will be brought against the violator. Additionally, disciplinary sanctions may be imposed up to and including expulsion and termination of employment.

Yes. If a police officer reasonably believes a safety risk exists, or has other probably cause to do so, he or she may disarm you. You should be courteous and non-confrontational and follow the police officer's directions.

A person with a concealed carry permit must conceal the weapon. A violation would occur when a person knowingly and intentionally (rather than accidentally) displays the handgun in plain view of another person.

The University will not track or have a list of LTC holders at the university. Individuals holding a valid LTC are not required to disclose their status. The only exception to this rule is if police ask about concealed carry status for law enforcement purposes. License holders are required to inform the police, if questioned, if they are carrying a handgun. Importantly, if asked by someone other than a police officer, students, faculty, and staff cannot be retaliated against in any way for failure to answer the question or for answering in the affirmative or negative. In no way should faculty, staff, and students be pressured or coerced into divulging their campus carry/LTC status. 

Be a good witness and avoid escalating the situation by confronting the individual. Call the University of Houston-Clear Lake Police Department immediately at 281-283-2222. If there is an active shooter on campus please see the links below for guidelines of what to do. 

Please see links below for guidelines for what to do in the event of an active shooter on campus:

• UHCL PD Active Shooter Information
• Washington Post Active Shooter Guide

Yes. The license holder shall display both the license holder's driver's license or identification certificate issued by DPS, and the license holder's handgun license. Texas Government Code § 411.205.

No. The Campus Carry Law, the Texas Penal Code, and university policy prohibit a license holder from carrying a concealed weapon at any on campus sporting event.

The law covers concealed carry only on campus and the buildings owned or leased by the University. The Campus Carry Law does not affect privately owned fraternity or sorority houses or private residential facilities. The University is not authorized to enact rules or regulations regarding concealed carry in any of these areas.

The Campus Carry Law authorizes a university president to enact "reasonable rules and regulations" but the rules may not either "generally prohibit" or "have the effect of generally prohibiting" license holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus. Banning concealed handguns from classrooms would likely be considered a general prohibition and so would violate the law.

A list of reciprocity agreements can be found on the website of the Texas Department of Public Safety.