House advances school safety bill after floor debate over reporting of educator misconduct

House Bill 121, a comprehensive school‑safety package, passed the Texas House after extended floor debate and a series of amendments on April 22.

The measure broadens the definition of peace officers connected to public schools to include certain private and permanent law enforcement classifications, allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to employ peace officers to enforce rules related to school buildings and grounds, and updates district emergency planning and reporting requirements. Representative King, the bill sponsor, said the bill addresses improvements identified after prior school safety reforms and provides TEA with personnel capable of coordinating with local law enforcement.

Representative Luther offered an amendment requiring that all reports of educator abuse or misconduct described in section 22.093 of the Education Code be reported both to law enforcement and to the Department of Family and Protective Services as appropriate, rather than only to TEA or a state agency. Luther said the change closes a gap that allowed some districts to report allegations only to licensing boards instead of police, which in some cases kept allegations from reaching criminal investigators. The amendment included a broad definition that would require reporting whenever the report was “based on evidence” of qualifying misconduct; legislators debated whether the amendment needed language to ensure local school police departments also notify city or county law enforcement.

Representative Toth proposed an additional amendment to require redundancy — including obligations for trustees to ensure reporting to law enforcement — but later withdrew it after the author agreed to work on a third‑reading change.

Members pressed the sponsor on training and permissive armed personnel provisions. Representative Patterson asked whether the measure creates a school safety buffer restricting open carry or public firearms near campuses; King said HB 121 does not change existing state prohibitions beyond the personnel the bill addresses. King explained the bill allows newly hired, authorized armed personnel to begin carrying while they complete training, with a 180‑day period to finish. He said the shorter timeline and variance process responds to districts that reported shortages of qualified trainers.

The House adopted amendments (including Luther’s reporting amendment, adopted by record vote) and passed HB 121 to engrossment by a roll call of 93 ayes and 52 nays.

The transcript records multiple floor exchanges, recorded votes and two withdrawn amendments; the bill moves next to the Senate.