H.B. No. 33, known as the Uvalde Strong Act, is designed to enhance safety measures in Texas primary and secondary schools in response to active shooter incidents and other emergencies. The bill amends the Education Code to require open-enrollment charter schools to implement additional safety protocols, including a multihazard emergency operations plan that encompasses employee training, communication strategies during emergencies, and mandatory safety drills. Key provisions include security reviews of school facilities and the requirement for each school district and charter school to have at least one breaching tool and one ballistic shield on campus. The bill also establishes the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University to develop training programs and templates for evaluating responses to active shooter incidents.

In addition to these measures, the Uvalde Strong Act mandates that local law enforcement and emergency medical services evaluate their responses to active shooter incidents and submit reports to relevant authorities. It introduces training requirements for peace officers and emergency medical personnel, ensuring they complete programs developed by the training center. The bill emphasizes the importance of mental health resources for first responders and requires annual meetings focused on school safety and law enforcement responses to school violence. It also sets new minimum curriculum requirements for law enforcement officers and outlines a timeline for implementing these provisions. The Act is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025, following unanimous support in both the House and Senate.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 37.109, Education Code 51.217, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Education Code 37, Education Code 51, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 12)
House Committee Report: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 51.217, Local Government Code 85.024, Occupations Code 1701.163, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Local Government Code 85, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 37, Education Code 51, Education Code 12)
Engrossed: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 51.217, Local Government Code 85.024, Occupations Code 1701.163, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Local Government Code 85, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 37, Education Code 51, Education Code 12)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 51.217, Local Government Code 85.024, Occupations Code 1701.163, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Local Government Code 85, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 37, Education Code 51, Education Code 12)
Enrolled: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 51.217, Local Government Code 85.024, Occupations Code 1701.163, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Local Government Code 85, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 37, Education Code 51, Education Code 12)