As of September, adults in Texas will be legally allowed to openly carry knives with blades longer than 5.5 inches.

Daggers, spears and even machetes fall into that category.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law last month, and it goes into effect on September 1.

HB 1935 still restricts users from carrying these weapons onto college campuses, nursing homes, sporting events and establishments that sell alcohol. The law also prohibits school-age children from carrying the weapons on school grounds or during school activities.

The new regulations come following a loosening of Texas’ so-called “illegal knife” laws:

In 2013, the legislature removed the restrictions on the possession of switchblade knives. Two years later, legislators voted to pass a law prohibiting local jurisdictions from making ordinances regarding knives more restrictive than those same laws at the state level.

The author of the bill, Representative John Frullo said its main purpose is to simplify the laws pertaining to knives and to limit their restrictions. He added that business owners are allowed to post signs prohibiting anyone from bringing a knife on their property.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/HB01935I.htm