H.B. No. 121 is a legislative measure aimed at enhancing public school safety in Texas by introducing several key provisions. The bill empowers the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to commission peace officers, granting them the authority to enforce school safety regulations. It also outlines the responsibilities of school districts in developing emergency operations plans, ensuring adequate training for employees, and maintaining effective communication systems during emergencies. Significant changes include new requirements for comprehensive safety measures, such as training for substitute teachers and the necessity for school districts to report on safety audits while developing alternative standards if they claim a good cause exception for compliance.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Education Code and the Local Government Code to improve school safety protocols. It mandates that reports on campus security deficiencies include recommendations for corrective actions, particularly concerning special education students undergoing threat assessments. The legislation also requires school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide safety information to parents at least three times a year and establishes new reporting requirements for child abuse or neglect. Furthermore, it introduces funding guidelines for security upgrades and mandates biannual meetings by sheriffs in smaller counties to discuss school safety. The bill sets a timeline for implementation, with new provisions taking effect in the 2025-2026 school year, and tasks the governor with appointing a new board member to the Texas School Safety Center by February 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Local Government Code 85.024 (Local Government Code 85, Education Code 37, Education Code 7)
House Committee Report: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.115, Education Code 37.203, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Education Code 48.115, Local Government Code 85.024, Education Code 37.2161 (Local Government Code 85, Education Code 37, Education Code 7, Education Code 48)
Engrossed: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.115, Education Code 37.203, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Education Code 38.004, Education Code 48.115, Family Code 261.103, Local Government Code 85.024, Education Code 37.2161 (Family Code 261, Local Government Code 85, Education Code 7, Education Code 48, Education Code 38, Education Code 37)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.115, Education Code 37.203, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Education Code 38.004, Education Code 48.115, Family Code 261.103, Local Government Code 85.024, Education Code 37.2161 (Family Code 261, Local Government Code 85, Education Code 7, Education Code 48, Education Code 38, Education Code 37)