Effective September 1, 2017, a House Bill (HB 1935) put forth by Rep. John Frullo was enacted and it significantly reduced restrictions on Knife laws. Feel free to check out the entire bill here (which outlines in detail the places it is not legal to carry a location-restricted knife:
HTTPS://LEGISCAN.COM/TX/TEXT/HB1935/2017
There is no “illegal knives” clause outlining daggers, stilettos, dirks, swords, spears, and Bowie knives. It has been removed, though knives that include a set of knuckles in the handle will remain illegal – see Sec. 46.05(2) of the Penal Code.
To summarize (and save you the hassle of wading through tons of statues), here’s what you need to know:
Knives with knuckles and tomahawks (see – Sec. 46.01 (1)) are not legal to carry in Texas. Anyone under the age of 18 (or over), can carry a knife less than 5.5 inches in length nearly anywhere. If you’re under 18, you can only carry a knife with a blade over 5.5 inches under certain conditions like for example, you’re accompanied by an adult or you’re at home or on your way home. However, any adult can carry any knife over 5.5 inches anywhere other than certain restricted locations. There are some restrictions on locations (hence the term “location-restricted knives”). You can’t carry any “location-restricted” knife (blade over 5.5 inches in length) to the following locations:
• Schools and on any passenger transportation vehicle of a school
• Polling Places
• Courthouses
• Airports past Security Screening (all knives are already prohibited by TSA)
• Racetracks
• Within 1,000 feet of the premises where an Execution is being conducted, if posted
• Sporting Events (high school, collegiate or professional sporting event or interscholastic sporting event)
• Correctional Facilities
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Mental Hospitals
• Amusement Parks
• Churches, Synagogues, and Established Places of Worship.
Sources
• Tex. Penal Code § 46.01 (2017)
• Tex. Penal Code § 46.02 (2017)
• Tex. Penal Code § 46.05 (2017)