Both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate have each passed their own school safety bills aimed at increasing the presence of armed security at school campuses, providing funds to update school security and safety infrastructure, and adding panic buttons to immediately alert emergency services. 

House Bill 3 passed the House by a vote of 112-25. HB 3 creates new mandates on school building standards for a secure and safe campus. The bill also has a provision for armed security guards at campuses. HB 3 would also allow panic buttons in schools for quicker access to emergency services. 

The bill also states that a school board would determine the appropriate number of armed security guards at each campus in its district. The qualified applicant is someone who is a peace officer, school resource officer, commissioned peace officer, or school marshall. It also qualifies a school district employee who has completed school safety training and carries a handgun at the school district within the authorization or regulations of the school district. Many teachers are worried about the possible proliferation of firearms in schools. The Texas American Federation of Teachers found that 77% of public school teachers do not want to be armed.

“This bill proposes significant investments for public school campuses to enhance and improve their school safety and security,” said State Representative Dustin Burrows who authored the bill. “With greater support and oversight for school safety protocols from the Texas Education Agency and the Texas School Safety Center, the policies that protect Texas schoolchildren and teachers will be strengthened.”

Under HB 3, school districts shall adopt a “multihazard emergency operations plan” aimed at prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in the case of an emergency. This plan must include emergency response training for school district employees, safety and security audits, and intruder detection audits annually. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) would oversee a school’s multihazard emergency operations plan. The Texas School Safety Center will be the one to define the model for these plans.

HB 3 furthermore requires counties with less than 350,000 residents to have biannual meetings between school district officials and all levels of law enforcement and first responder heads in the county. “We must boost coordination between schools and local law enforcement and fund these improvements so that schools aren’t alone in their efforts to protect themselves,” said Representative  Burrows.

From the Texas Senate, Senate Bill 11 was passed unanimously. It would require local education service centers to act as school safety resource centers. They would work with the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) and local law enforcement, along with conducting annual intruder detection audits and then report findings and recommendations to the superintendent. 

This would also include the development of a multihazard emergency operations plan overseen by the TEA. Plus it would include local areas to create a school safety and security committee, conducting emergency school drills, and auditing campuses for defects in security standards. The TEA and TxSSC would provide technical assistance to school districts for these purposes.

“This bill increases school districts’ school safety allotment and changes the formula to reflect a per campus funding basis,” stated Senator Robert Nichols, the author of the bill. “It includes $230 million in increased funding for school safety, in addition to the $600 million in the supplemental appropriations act for school safety and security grants.”

SB 11 would require parents and guardians enrolling their children in schools to provide a disciplinary record and “any threat assessment involving the child’s behavior.” The TEA, under the bill, would create a model standard for school districts to report violent acts that occurred or are being investigated, to parents, guardians, or those who serve in a parent-like capacity for students. This would also apply to student transfers.

“This bill creates a layered approach to school safety while maintaining local control for districts to assess their needs and choose their school safety solutions. I’m proud to have worked on this bill and I’d like to thank the Lt. Governor and the other members of the Senate for their input and support,” said Nichols.

Furthermore, the Texas House also passed House Bill 13 that would require school district employees who regularly interact with students to complete an evidence-based mental health first aid training program to recognize and help students experiencing mental health and or substance-abuse issues.

HB 13 would also give a $25,000 stipend to school district employees who complete firearms training and apply to become “school guardians” for the district. This would be the same training required for a school marshall and instruction in mental health first aid and trauma-informed care.

The TEA would provide an allotment to cover travel and training fees for school district employees who fall under this criteria. This bill also would require a school board to add a procedure that provides clear instruction for students reporting behaviors of another student that seem concerning and threatening.

HB 13 would require each school district to annually implement an active shooter response plan. The TEA and TxSSC would provide requirements for the plan and a rubric for schools to follow. This bill also has a grant program for school districts to receive allotments to pay for school safety and security technology and equipment. The TEA and TxSSC would provide a directory of vendors where school districts can purchase these materials from. 

House Bill 669 passed the House and would also require panic buttons in public schools.

House Joint Resolution 170 was passed by the Texas House and would fund schools for the purposes of increasing school safety and security.