The Florida Senate

The bill makes numerous changes relating to the safety of Florida's Postsecondary institutions.

Guardian Program

The bill expands the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel School Guardian Program to authorize employees and faculty members to serve as school guardian and carry a firearm on campus at the following institutions:

• Public postsecondary educational institutions;
• Workforce education;
• Florida College System Institutions;
• State universities; and
• All other state-supported postsecondary educational institutions.

A county sheriff must establish a guardian program or contract with another sheriff office that have established guardian training programs to meet the demand for such training.

Safety on Postsecondary Campuses

The bill creates the “Active Response and Mitigation of On-Campus Risks (ARMOR) Act” that requires:

• The institutions to establish threat management teams, and in collaboration with appropriate public safety agencies, annually conduct a security risk assessment at each campus using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool.
• The adoption of active assailant plans and annually certify that all faculty, staff and students have completed active assailant preparedness training.
• The adoption and annual review of a family unification plan, in coordination with local law enforcement and local government.
• The training of faculty to detect and respond to mental health issues and connect students with appropriate services.
• Policies and procedures be adopted to support students, faculty, and staff who are victims of violence, attempted violence, or credible threats.
• Public postsecondary educational institutions to post on their websites and around campus mental health awareness and suicide prevention signs.

The bill requires that public postsecondary educational institutions that do not have their own existing public safety reporting "app" as of July 1, 2026 must promote the use of the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool (FortifyFL), by:

• Advertising it on the institution website, 
• Installing it on all mobile devices issued by the institution, and
• Bookmarking the website on all computer devices maintained by the institution.

Student Records

When a student enrolls in a Florida College System institution or state university, the student’s education records must be transferred to the institution or university if his or her records contain:

• Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns;
• Any threat assessment report;
• Information required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument; or
• Psychological evaluations, treatment plans, or progress notes.

The bill allows state and local agencies and programs that provide services to students experiencing or at risk of an emotional disturbance or a mental illness, including state universities and Florida College System institutions, to share  records or information if  reasonably necessary to ensure access to appropriate services for the student or to ensure the safety of the student or others.

Discharging a Firearm

The bill creates a second degree felony if a person discharges any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned school activity, unless discharged for lawful defense of himself or herself or another or for a lawful purpose. This new offense does not apply to the discharge of a weapon or firearm on private real property within 1,000 feet of a school by the owner of such property or by a person whose presence on such property has been authorized, licensed, or invited by the owner.

A person arrested for discharging any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned school activity must be held in custody until brought before the court for admittance to bail. The crime is ranked as a level 6 in the Offense Severity Ranking Chart.

If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect upon becoming law, except where otherwise provided.

Vote: Senate 26-10; House 88-20