Are FRT Triggers Legal in Texas in 2026? Federal and State Law Explained

Are FRT Triggers Legal in Texas?

The legal status of forced reset triggers (FRTs) in Texas requires looking at both federal law and Texas law.

As of 2026, federal authorities have substantially changed their treatment of certain FRTs following litigation involving Rare Breed Triggers and related parties. The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement in May 2025, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) subsequently published guidance concerning the return and treatment of eligible FRT-15 and Wide Open Trigger devices.

Texas law separately regulates machine guns through the Texas Penal Code. The current statutory provisions do not expressly identify “forced reset triggers” by that name. Instead, Texas law defines a machine gun and regulates possession, manufacture, transportation, repair, and sale of machine guns subject to specified exceptions.

Accordingly, the legally precise answer is:

Texas does not appear to have a separate statute expressly prohibiting FRTs by name, but the legality of a particular FRT still depends on its federal status, the specific device involved, and how applicable Texas law applies to it.

Legal disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Firearms laws can change, and the legal status of a particular device may depend on its design and the user’s circumstances.

Federal FRT Law: What Changed?

The federal FRT controversy developed through several major cases and agency actions.

1. Garland v. Cargill

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Garland v. Cargill, a case concerning bump stocks rather than FRTs.

The Court held that the federal statutory definition of “machinegun” did not cover the bump-stock device at issue under the government’s interpretation of the statute.

That decision became significant in subsequent FRT litigation, but it is important not to describe Cargill as a Supreme Court ruling specifically holding that all FRTs are lawful.

2. National Association for Gun Rights v. Garland

On July 23, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted summary judgment to plaintiffs in litigation concerning certain FRT devices. The case involved Rare Breed’s FRT-15 and Wide Open Trigger products, among others.

ATF subsequently acknowledged the decision in its published FRT guidance, stating that the Northern District of Texas held that the identified Rare Breed FRT-15s and WOTs were not machine guns under the NFA.

This distinction matters: the litigation concerned specific devices and parties, rather than creating a simple rule that every product marketed as an FRT automatically has the same legal status.

3. The May 2025 DOJ Settlement

On May 16, 2025, the Department of Justice announced a settlement involving the federal government, Rare Breed Triggers, Rare Breed Firearms, the National Association for Gun Rights, Texas Gun Rights, and named individuals.

The DOJ announcement states that the settlement resolved several related cases and that the government agreed to specified conditions concerning eligible FRTs.

ATF later explained that, under the settlement, the United States agreed not to enforce specified federal machine-gun provisions against persons or organizations possessing or transferring an eligible FRT.

That wording is important. The settlement should not be summarized as an unrestricted declaration that every conceivable forced-reset device is lawful.

What Does the 2026 ATF Guidance Say?

ATF’s published guidance provides particularly useful context for the current federal position.

According to ATF, eligible FRT-15s and WOTs seized or voluntarily surrendered under the earlier enforcement effort were subject to return under the settlement, subject to specified conditions. ATF also states that certain machine-gun conversion devices are not eligible FRTs under the agreement.

ATF further states that the settlement does not override independent state prohibitions.

The agency specifically warns that some states independently prohibit possession of forced-reset triggers or trigger-activating devices.

Therefore, federal treatment and state treatment must be analyzed separately.

What Does Texas Law Say About FRTs?

Texas Penal Code Chapter 46 contains the state’s principal weapons provisions.

Section 46.01 defines a machine gun as a firearm capable of shooting more than two shots automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Section 46.05 separately identifies a machine gun as a prohibited weapon, subject to the statutory exceptions concerning registration or other federal treatment.

Notably, the current statute does not expressly list “forced reset trigger” as a standalone prohibited category.

That does not mean that every FRT configuration is automatically lawful under every circumstance. Instead, the relevant legal question is whether the particular device or firearm configuration falls within a category regulated by the statute and applicable federal law.

Does Texas Have a Specific FRT Ban?

The current Texas Penal Code provisions reviewed for this article do not expressly prohibit “forced reset triggers” by name.

Texas instead regulates machine guns through its statutory definition and prohibited-weapons provisions.

This distinction is important for SEO content because saying “Texas has no FRT law” can be misleading. Texas has firearms and machine-gun statutes; the more precise statement is that the statutes reviewed do not create a separate prohibition specifically labeled “FRT.”

Does the 2025 Settlement Apply to Every FRT?

No.

The DOJ settlement and subsequent ATF guidance use the concept of eligible FRTs.

ATF expressly distinguishes eligible FRTs from machine-gun conversion devices such as switches, drop-in auto sears, lightning links, and certain other devices.

The federal government’s treatment of an eligible FRT therefore should not be generalized to unrelated conversion devices simply because they may be marketed using similar terminology.

Can State Law Still Restrict an FRT?

Yes.

ATF explicitly states that certain federal and state prohibitions continue to apply and that some states independently prohibit forced-reset triggers or trigger-activating devices.

This is one reason a nationwide statement such as “FRTs are legal in all 50 states” is inappropriate.

The relevant state law must be checked independently.

Does an FRT Automatically Require NFA Registration?

The answer depends on the particular device and its legal classification.

An eligible FRT covered by the federal settlement is treated differently from a device that falls within the federal definition of a machine gun or another regulated category. ATF’s guidance specifically distinguishes eligible FRTs from machine-gun conversion devices.

Consequently, it is safer to avoid a blanket statement that “FRTs never require NFA registration.”

The legally relevant question is whether the particular device falls within a category subject to the National Firearms Act or another federal restriction.

What About Texas Residents Who Already Own an FRT?

ATF’s 2025 guidance addressed the return of eligible FRTs that had previously been seized or voluntarily surrendered.

ATF stated that eligible FRTs could be returned subject to the settlement’s conditions, including restrictions concerning prohibited persons and jurisdictions where possession is unlawful.

The agency subsequently extended the return-request process for certain individuals, with the published guidance stating that remaining devices in ATF custody would be disposed of after June 1, 2026.

This illustrates why current agency guidance should be checked rather than relying on older articles describing the pre-settlement enforcement position.

FRT Legal Status in Texas: Key Points

Question	Current legal takeaway
Does Texas expressly name FRTs as prohibited weapons?	The Texas statutes reviewed do not expressly name FRTs as a separate category.
Does Texas regulate machine guns?	Yes. Texas Penal Code Chapter 46 does so.
Did Cargill directly decide FRT legality?	No. The Supreme Court case concerned bump stocks.
Did a Texas federal court rule on certain FRTs?	Yes. The Northern District of Texas ruled concerning specified FRT devices in July 2024.
Did DOJ settle the federal FRT litigation?	Yes, DOJ announced a settlement in May 2025.
Does the settlement cover every FRT-like device?	No. ATF refers to eligible FRTs and excludes certain machine-gun conversion devices.
Can state restrictions still apply?	Yes. ATF expressly says independent state prohibitions remain applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are FRT triggers legal in Texas in 2026?

Texas does not appear to have a standalone statutory prohibition specifically naming FRTs. However, Texas law regulates machine guns, and federal law and settlement terms distinguish eligible FRTs from other regulated conversion devices.

Did Texas pass an FRT ban?

The current Texas Penal Code provisions reviewed for this article do not identify “forced reset triggers” as a separate prohibited category. Texas does, however, regulate machine guns under Chapter 46.

Did the Supreme Court legalize FRT triggers?

No. Garland v. Cargill was a 2024 Supreme Court case involving bump stocks. Subsequent FRT litigation in federal district court applied the reasoning to specified FRT devices.

What happened to FRT enforcement in 2025?

The Department of Justice announced a May 16, 2025 settlement resolving federal litigation involving Rare Breed and related parties. ATF subsequently published guidance implementing the settlement’s treatment of eligible FRTs.

Does the federal settlement mean every FRT is legal?

No. ATF’s guidance specifically refers to eligible FRTs and distinguishes them from machine-gun conversion devices. Independent state prohibitions can also remain applicable.

Can Texas law still matter if federal law allows an FRT?

Yes. Federal and state firearms laws operate independently. Texas has its own statutory provisions governing machine guns and other prohibited weapons.

For Texas readers in 2026, the FRT legal landscape is substantially different from the federal enforcement environment that existed before the 2024–2025 litigation.

The Supreme Court’s Cargill decision concerned bump stocks, while the Northern District of Texas subsequently addressed specified FRT devices. In May 2025, DOJ announced a settlement resolving federal litigation involving Rare Breed and related parties, and ATF published guidance concerning eligible FRTs.

Texas separately regulates machine guns under Penal Code Chapter 46, but the provisions reviewed here do not expressly create a standalone category called “forced reset triggers.”

The most accurate conclusion for a 2026 publisher is therefore not simply “all FRTs are legal in Texas.” Instead, Texas does not appear to impose a separate FRT-specific prohibition, while the legality of a particular device remains dependent on its classification, applicable federal law and settlement terms, and the exact Texas law applicable to the circumstances.

Legal disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Firearms laws and enforcement policies can change. Readers should consult current statutes, court orders, agency guidance, and qualified legal counsel before relying on this information for a specific situation.