All Roll Calls
Yes: 215 • No: 0
FloridaSB 14702025SenateWALLET
School Safety
Sponsored By: Danny Burgess (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AppropriationEducation Pre-K - 12Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 EducationFiscal PolicyHouse Calendar
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Schools lock doors and mark shelter areas
Public and charter schools must lock exclusive-zone gates from 30 minutes before school starts until 30 minutes after it ends while students are on campus. Staffed entrances, shared-use agreements, and documented safety exceptions are allowed. Classrooms and instructional spaces must be locked while students are present, except during transitions; open doors must be staffed, and at least one locked barrier must separate them from open campus areas. Schools must mark the safest shelter areas and tell students where they are within the first 10 days of school; if marking is not feasible, staff must document why and record the locations in the state portal. Substitute teachers must receive safety rules before their first day, and known violations must be reported through the required school chain by the next business day.
Schools use a statewide threat system
The Office of Safe Schools must run a statewide process and Florida-specific tool for handling behavioral threats. Schools and charter school boards must use them to identify, assess, manage, and monitor threats and coordinate responses. By August 1, 2025, the office must provide a digital portal for assessments and reports; covered schools must use it when available. The portal supports role-based access and record transfers between districts and charter schools. The office must review portal access every quarter and provide role-based training by August 1, 2025, and each year after.
More safety officer options for schools
When a school board adopts a guardian program or contracts for guards, the county sheriff must establish the program. In counties without one, charter schools, private schools, and child care facilities can request a program; after a denial, they can contract with a sheriff in another county. Charters must notify their superintendent and county sheriff before signing an out-of-county contract; private schools and child care facilities must notify their county sheriff. Child care facilities can also partner with law enforcement or a security agency for officers, but they pay the full cost. Sheriffs may waive guardian training and screening costs for private schools and child care facilities. Participating district and charter school employees receive a one-time $500 stipend and sheriff reimbursement for screening and training costs; private school and child care staff do not receive the state stipend.
New training rules for school guards
Beginning July 1, 2025, a school security guard must get county sheriff approval before working at a school in that county. Most guards need a 144-hour sheriff-run course, including firearm training with an 85% pass score, psychological screening, and initial and random drug tests. Guards also need annual training, weapon inspections, and firearm qualifications; some certified personnel in good standing with the state criminal justice training commission can skip the full course but must meet other requirements. The security agency pays training and screening costs, and training charges cannot exceed the sheriff’s actual cost. Contracts must name who keeps training and qualification records, and agencies receive required compliance records; state agencies share guard information for oversight.
Central alert system links schools and responders
If money is appropriated, the state education department, working with the management services department, must identify a central system for school emergency alerts. If the system is established, public and charter schools must connect approved alert systems and integrate required digital maps. Emergency call centers can receive alerts and view maps, while authorized state agencies can access past alert data.
Missed reports can halt school guard programs
Sheriffs must report a guard’s or guardian’s identifying and certification details within 30 days after issuing a certificate. They must report upcoming training schedules every quarter, except when no training is scheduled. Schools, child care facilities, and security agencies must report appointments and separations twice each school year, on February 1 and September 1. The state keeps a statewide list of certified guards and guardians. An entity that misses required reports cannot operate a guardian program or employ school security guards in the next school year until it submits the missing information.
New privacy rules for student threat records
Threat assessment reports and related records are treated as student education records, and state rules control how they are kept, transferred, and accessed. Parents can access their own student’s education records as those rules allow, but cannot access the portal. A person who accesses, uses, or releases a record for an unauthorized purpose commits a noncriminal infraction and can be fined up to $2,000.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Danny Burgess
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/1/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0
House vote • 4/30/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 110 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/2/2025
Fiscal Policy Vote
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/24/2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Vote
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/11/2025
Education Pre-K - 12 Vote
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter No. 2025-58
5/22/2025Approved by Governor
5/21/2025Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
5/19/2025Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
5/1/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 1072
5/1/2025SenateConcurred in 1 amendment(s) (856085) -SJ 1072
5/1/2025SenateIn returning messages
4/30/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
4/30/2025HouseRead 3rd time
4/30/2025HouseAdded to Third Reading Calendar
4/30/2025HousePlaced on 3rd reading
4/30/2025HouseAmendment 856085 adopted
4/30/2025HouseRead 2nd time
4/30/2025House1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
4/29/2025HouseBill added to Special Order Calendar (4/30/2025)
4/29/2025HouseBill referred to House Calendar
4/29/2025HouseIn Messages
4/9/2025HouseImmediately certified -SJ 392
4/9/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 390
4/9/2025SenateRead 3rd time -SJ 390
4/9/2025SenateAmendment(s) adopted (777016) -SJ 390
4/9/2025SenateRead 2nd time -SJ 389
4/9/2025SenatePlaced on Special Order Calendar, 04/09/25
4/3/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar, on 2nd reading
4/2/2025SenateFavorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 15 NAYS 0
4/2/2025Senate
Bill Text
er
7/1/2025
e2
5/2/2025
e1
4/9/2025
c1
3/26/2025
Filed
2/26/2025