The bill amends the Education Code to allow school marshals, appointed by school districts or governing bodies of open-enrollment charter schools, to openly carry handguns while in uniform, in addition to the existing provision for carrying concealed handguns. Specifically, the amendments to Sections 37.0811 and 37.0813 outline that school marshals may carry a concealed handgun or, if wearing a uniform, openly carry a handgun on their person. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that handguns may also be stored in a locked and secured location on school premises. The regulations must ensure that any handgun carried or possessed by a school marshal is loaded only with frangible duty ammunition approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Additionally, the bill modifies the regulations for school marshals at public junior colleges, allowing similar provisions for carrying handguns as outlined in the previous sections. The amendments clarify that written regulations must authorize both concealed and open carry for marshals in uniform, while also allowing for secure storage of handguns. The bill is set to take effect at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, unless it receives immediate approval from two-thirds of the members elected to each house, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 37.0811, Education Code 37.0813, Education Code 51.220 (Education Code 51, Education Code 37)
House Committee Report: Education Code 37.0811, Education Code 37.0813, Education Code 51.220 (Education Code 51, Education Code 37)