Delegate Kent’s bill to widen pool for school security officers moves to 'pass by indefinitely' after split testimony

Delegate Kent introduced House Bill 2257, which would amend Virginia code provisions for school security officers to remove a 10‑year recency restriction that can bar former law-enforcement officers from serving as school security officers (SSOs).

The bill’s patron, Delegate Kent, told the subcommittee that HB 2257 "only seeks to expand currently what is in practice with SSO officers by eliminating a barrier to apply by removing the 10 year requirement," and emphasized it does not change existing credentialing or training requirements.

Supporters said the change would expand the available pool of candidates amid workforce shortages. Philip Van Cleve of the Virginia Citizens Defense League told the committee, "We support the bill. We think that this will protect our schools better than they're currently protected." Several online and in-person supporters made similar remarks.

Opponents argued the change would lower the bar for who carries firearms in schools and would increase risk. Chad Stewart of the Virginia Education Association said the association "share[s] the goal of trying to keep our students more safe in school. However, we feel that this bill does lower the bar for, the training, and that we expect folks to carry weapons in our schools." Andrew Goddard of the Virginia Center for Public Safety testified, "That is a fallacy" that an armed responder necessarily makes children safer and urged caution. Laurie Haas added that safe-storage mandates and practices are important to preventing firearms from getting into students’ hands.

Committee members asked questions about the bill’s scope and the training it requires. Delegate Helmer and Delegate Gallagher asked whether the required trainings include firearm handling; Delegate Kent responded that she did not know the specific contents of each listed course but repeated that "the goal of this is not to change the training" and that current training and credentialing requirements would remain in place under the bill. Members also contested the statute's age-related language: several asked about the bill allowing individuals up to age 75 to carry a firearm if other criteria are met.

After debate, a motion to pass HB 2257 by indefinitely (PBI) carried on a recorded vote of six to two. The clerk announced, "HB 2,257 has been passed by indefinitely on a vote of six-two."