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TexasHB 12189th Legislature Regular SessionHouse

Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources.

Sponsored By: Ken King, Robert Nichols (Republican)

Signed by Governor

City Government--Employees/OfficersEducation--Primary & Secondary--Charter SchoolsEducation--Primary & Secondary--Extracurricular ActivitiesEducation--Primary & Secondary--FacilitiesEducation--Primary & Secondary--GeneralEducation--School DistrictsGovernorLaw EnforcementMinors--Health & SafetySafetyALAMO, THEPEACE OFFICERSEDUCATION AGENCY, TEXASGENERAL LAND OFFICESCHOOL SAFETY CENTER, TEXAS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

School security exceptions require training reviews

Districts using a good-cause security exception can assign an employee or contractor who meets training rules and carries a handgun under written district rules or authorization. Training must come from a school-safety-certified handgun instructor, or follow a district-approved program completed within 90 days of starting duties. For district-approved training, districts must consult their police department or, without one, local law enforcement. That program must cover certified active-shooter response instruction, school safety, emergency management, crisis intervention, incident command, first aid, mental health, and firearm qualifications. Exceptions expire after one year; boards must reassess compliance and renew both the exception and alternative standard if still unable to comply.

Schools gain more safety funding options

Beginning September 1, 2025, districts can use allocated school safety funds for more door and window upgrades. Allowed uses include exterior door numbers, primary and secondary locks, and security film that resists forced entry. Funds can also support behavioral interventionists, restorative justice, and other discipline-management practices; the law states no funding amount. Facility safety exceptions expire five years after being claimed, requiring districts to reassess whether they can meet each standard. Districts still unable to comply must renew both the exception and their alternative safety standard.

Schools strengthen emergency plans and maps

School and public junior college districts must include family reunification, emergency training, and substitute teachers' classroom communication access in emergency plans. School-district plans must also address physical and psychological safety, substitute access during emergencies and drills, and agency-specified extracurricular safety. They must list school-safety committee members and meeting dates. Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, districts and open-enrollment charter schools must share accurate campus and building maps with state police, appropriate local police, and emergency responders. They must offer map-based walk-throughs and include emergency services districts located wholly or partly within the school's service area.

Parents get regular school safety information

Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools must regularly share school safety information. Each enrolled student's parent or guardian must receive the required information and resources at least three times each school year.

Stronger safeguards for student threat reviews

Threat reviews of students receiving special education must include someone who knows the student's disability and how it affects them. That person must be a special education teacher, licensed behavior analyst, licensed clinical or master social worker, or licensed school psychologist. When a team finds a serious risk of violence to self or others, it must immediately tell the superintendent. If the person is a student, the team must also immediately try to notify the student's parent or guardian.

School inspectors gain limited police roles

Texas Education Agency inspectors join the state's peace-officer list, subject to limits on their authority. The agency can employ them only to help monitor school safety rules and coordinate with law enforcement during school-district emergencies. Agency monitoring now includes districts' emergency responses and use of emergency procedures. The peace-officer list also includes specified municipal fire personnel with permanent peace-officer licenses and commissioned Alamo complex rangers, subject to applicable limits. The law also revises the listing of specified Texas Juvenile Justice Department officers.

Sheriffs must hold school safety meetings

Beginning September 1, 2025, sheriffs in counties with fewer than 350,000 residents must hold school safety meetings. The requirement applies when a county contains a school district or open-enrollment charter school. Sheriffs must hold at least two meetings each calendar year, at least three months apart. Meetings address coordinated responses, resources, emergency radio links, and who leads during an emergency. Sheriffs can discuss several schools at one meeting, and schools do not have to adopt identical safety policies.

One school code section is repealed

Beginning September 1, 2025, the law repeals Texas Education Code Section 37.2161. The supplied text does not explain what that section covered, so the effects on schools and families are unclear.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Ken King

    House

  • Robert Nichols

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 475 • No: 122

House vote • 5/30/2025

Record vote

Yes: 97 • No: 38

Senate vote • 5/28/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/28/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

Record vote

Yes: 142 • No: 4

House vote • 4/23/2025

Record vote

Yes: 119 • No: 27

House vote • 4/22/2025

Record vote

Yes: 94 • No: 52

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Public Education

Yes: 12 • No: 1

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Education K-16

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective on 9/1/25

    6/20/2025House

  2. Signed by the Governor

    6/20/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    6/2/2025House

  4. Signed in the Senate

    6/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed in the House

    6/1/2025House

  6. Reported enrolled

    5/31/2025House

  7. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported

    5/30/2025Senate

  8. Text of Senate Amendment(s)

    5/30/2025House

  9. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/30/2025House

  10. Record vote (RV#4079)

    5/30/2025House

  11. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)

    5/30/2025House

  12. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed

    5/29/2025House

  13. Senate Amendments distributed

    5/29/2025House

  14. Senate passage as amended reported

    5/29/2025House

  15. Record vote

    5/28/2025Senate

  16. Passed

    5/28/2025Senate

  17. Read 3rd time

    5/28/2025Senate

  18. Record vote

    5/28/2025Senate

  19. Three day rule suspended

    5/28/2025Senate

  20. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/28/2025Senate

  21. Passed to 3rd reading as amended

    5/28/2025Senate

  22. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/28/2025Senate

  23. Amended

    5/28/2025Senate

  24. Amendment(s) offered (FA2 Hancock)

    5/28/2025Senate

  25. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/28/2025Senate

Bill Text

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