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Committee advances bill to create reimbursement fund for school staff firearms, trauma training
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Summary
House Bill 2022 would create a state reimbursement fund to pay for training and equipment for school employees authorized to carry firearms under local policies; committee advanced the measure 4‑3 after hours of testimony from law‑enforcement trainers, gun‑rights groups and public‑health and education advocates who warned of risks and costs.
House Bill 2022, titled the Save Our Children's School Safety Program in the Department of Education, passed the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee on Feb. 19, 2025, on a 4‑3 vote. The bill would establish a state reimbursement fund to help schools or employees pay for certification that allows staff to carry firearms on school grounds when the local school authority opts into the program; it also outlines minimum training hours, indemnification in certain circumstances and requirements for confidentiality of authorized employee lists.
Supporters said the measure would reimburse training (including tactical combat casualty care) and equipment purchases for staff who volunteer to be certified to carry where local policy permits. Michael Infanzen of the Arizona Citizens Defense League described the proposal as a voluntary, district‑level option that adds medical and de‑escalation training alongside firearms safety; Cheryl Todd of Women for Gun Rights said she had taken the training and backed wider deployment. A former law enforcement EMT and firearms instructor and a pro‑school‑security detective argued that faster on‑scene response and trauma care could save lives, particularly in rural districts where emergency response times can be long.
Opponents — including representatives from Moms Demand Action, Giffords and University students — said the bill would introduce more guns into schools, increase the risk that students gain access to firearms, and that 40 total hours of training is far less than the 840 hours average police officers receive. Mental‑health professionals and an ASU student testified about increased anxiety and the potential for tragic mistakes in chaotic active‑shooter responses.
Committee debate centered on rural response times, liability and whether indemnification language and confidentiality provisions adequately protect students and families. The committee ultimately approved a due‑pass recommendation, 4 ayes to 3 nays; sponsors said they would seek amendments and clarifications in future committee work.
Why it matters: The bill would create a new state fund for training and equipment for school staff certified to carry firearms under local school policies. It touches on public‑safety strategy, liability, privacy of staff identities and differing views among law enforcement, educators, public‑health and gun‑rights organizations.
What’s next: The bill advanced to the Senate floor with committee proponents planning to refine confidentiality, indemnification and training language through amendments and further discussions.
