A Texas License to Carry is honored in roughly 34 other states through formal reciprocity agreements, gubernatorial proclamations, or state recognition statutes. Several additional states allow anyone who can legally possess a handgun to carry without any permit, which extends your practical range further. About ten states refuse to recognize the Texas LTC entirely, and carrying there without a locally issued permit is typically a felony. Reciprocity changes as governors sign new proclamations and legislatures amend firearms laws, so confirming the current status before each trip is essential.
States With Reciprocal Recognition
The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains the authoritative list of states that recognize the Texas LTC through a bilateral agreement, a signed proclamation, or their own state law.1Department of Public Safety. State Reciprocity Information Your LTC is currently valid in:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota (added April 2025)
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Whether a given state honors Texas through a signed bilateral agreement or through its own broad recognition statute makes little practical difference to you as a traveler. What matters is that the LTC in your wallet is legally valid when you cross the line.
Permitless Carry States Where the LTC Still Helps
Many of the states above also have their own permitless carry laws, meaning anyone who can legally possess a firearm may carry it without any license. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming all fall into this category. You could technically carry in those states without showing your LTC at all.
A few additional permitless carry states do not appear on the DPS reciprocity list because no formal agreement or proclamation exists with Texas. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are the notable examples. You can likely carry there under their permitless carry statutes, but the Texas LTC itself has no formal recognition.
Carry on your LTC rather than on permitless authority when you have the choice. Under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school is a federal offense unless you hold a license issued by that state or a state whose license it recognizes.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts Carrying without a permit in a permitless carry state does not satisfy that exception. In a state that recognizes your Texas LTC, the license closes the gap.
States That Will Not Honor Your Texas LTC
Several states have no reciprocity with Texas and will not recognize your LTC under any circumstances. Carrying a handgun in any of these on a Texas LTC alone is a violation of state law:1Department of Public Safety. State Reciprocity Information
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Washington
Oregon has no agreement with Texas in either direction. Wisconsin and the District of Columbia also lack recognition arrangements. Possession of a handgun without a locally issued license in states like New York, New Jersey, or Illinois is typically charged as a felony, and some impose mandatory minimum prison sentences. There is no exception for being a licensed carrier from another state.
If you need to carry in one of these states regularly, your only legal option is to apply for a permit the state will issue. A few of them issue non-resident licenses; Florida’s non-resident concealed weapon license, for example, is available to Texas residents and extends coverage in a handful of states. The most restrictive states either do not issue non-resident permits at all or set qualifying standards narrow enough to exclude most applicants.
Driving Through a State That Doesn’t Recognize Your LTC
Federal law provides a narrow safe passage protection for travelers transporting firearms through restrictive states. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 926A, you may transport a firearm through any state if you can lawfully possess it at both your origin and your destination, the firearm is unloaded, and neither the gun nor any ammunition is readily accessible from the passenger compartment.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms In a vehicle without a separate trunk, the firearm and ammunition must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or center console.
The protection is narrower than most people assume. It covers transporting a firearm through a restrictive state, not stopping in one for an extended stay. Courts have interpreted the statute as requiring relatively prompt and direct travel. An overnight stop, sightseeing, or a significant route deviation can take you outside the protection. States like New York and New Jersey have a well-documented pattern of arresting travelers with firearms regardless of the federal statute, which functions as a legal defense in court rather than a shield against arrest. Plan routes through restrictive states carefully and secure the firearm exactly as the statute requires.
Local Rules That Still Apply Where You Can Carry
Reciprocity means the host state recognizes your license. It does not mean Texas rules travel with you. The host state’s laws govern where you can carry, what you can carry, and how you must behave during police contact.
Magazine Capacity Limits
About 14 states cap magazine capacity, most at 10 rounds. Colorado, which recognizes your Texas LTC, limits magazines to 15 rounds. A standard 15- or 17-round magazine common with full-size handguns can trigger criminal charges in a state with a 10-round limit even though the handgun itself is perfectly legal. If your route touches a capacity-restricted state, carry 10-round magazines or confirm the specific limit first.
Ammunition Restrictions
New Jersey restricts hollow-point ammunition in public. You may possess it at home, at a range, or while hunting, but carrying hollow points for self-defense is not permitted under state law, and each cartridge can support a fourth-degree crime charge. Since hollow points are the standard self-defense round, this one catches Texas travelers off guard. If you’re moving through New Jersey under federal safe passage, your ammunition should be locked and inaccessible along with the firearm.
Duty to Inform
Some states require you to tell a law enforcement officer immediately that you are carrying a firearm during any official encounter, including a routine traffic stop. Others only require disclosure if the officer asks. Failing to volunteer the information in a duty-to-inform state can result in criminal charges even when your carry is otherwise lawful. Ohio, Louisiana, and Nebraska are reciprocal states with mandatory disclosure.
Prohibited Locations
Prohibited places vary widely. Common additions beyond Texas law include bars or restaurants serving alcohol, public parks, houses of worship, government buildings beyond courthouses, and public transit. The host state’s list controls, and ignorance of a local restriction is not a defense.
Verifying Status Before You Travel
Start with the DPS State Reciprocity Information page, which lists every state’s current status along with links to the underlying proclamation or agreement documents.1Department of Public Safety. State Reciprocity Information Check it before every trip, not once a year. Minnesota was added in April 2025, and similar changes can happen with little notice.
Then check the destination state. The DPS page tells you whether an agreement or proclamation is in place; the destination state’s attorney general or state police firearms division will tell you the current local rules on where you can carry, what restrictions apply, and whether any recent court orders or legislative changes affect recognition. A few minutes on both ends before you pack beats any legal argument after the fact.