BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 870

By: Birdwell

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that public school districts are constantly looking for additional ways to protect students while they are on district campuses, that many schools have hired uniformed school marshals to help provide security and safety, that uniformed school marshals are currently unable to adequately protect students due to a statutory requirement to keep their handgun concealed while on school premises, and that this can inhibit a marshal's ability to quickly access their handgun in a time of imminent danger or need. S.B. 870 seeks to allow a uniformed school marshal to openly carry a handgun on the marshal's person in a similar fashion to a school resource officer.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 870 amends the Education Code to remove language requiring the concealment of a handgun carried by a school marshal appointed by the governing entity of a public school district, open-enrollment charter school, private school, or public junior college on the premises of a school or college campus, as applicable. The bill requires any written regulations adopted by the governing entity regarding the carrying or possession of a handgun by a school marshal to provide that a school marshal who is wearing a uniform identifying themselves as such may openly carry a handgun on their person. The bill applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.