Senate panel advances bill requiring school safety plans, coordinated guidance on door locks

Representative Pendergraft introduced House Bill 31, which would require each school district to adopt safety and security policies, including threat assessment procedures, and would direct the School Facilities Division to develop security protocols for door securement devices in coordination with security experts and the State Fire Marshal.

The bill’s sponsor said the measure responds to questions raised by school resource officers and local fire marshals about which door-locking devices are permitted during lockdowns. "Folks, I bring you House Bill 31. This is a bill primarily about, I think, common sense and local control," Representative Pendergraft said, adding that districts should have plans and that some commonly available devices had been disallowed by fire marshals without clear alternatives being offered.

The bill as passed by the committee (as amended) requires school boards to adopt safety and security policies, directs superintendents to implement them, and directs the School Facilities Division to develop and communicate a safety protocol in consultation with security experts and the State Fire Marshal. Committee language also makes drafts of district safety policies confidential to avoid disclosing response procedures.

Department of Education testimony said districts already submit a range of safety information via accreditation and that the department supports the bill’s goals. "The superintendent supports this bill, and she believes in the priority of safety for our students," Wanda Maloney testified for the department, noting a recent safety summit with the School Facilities Commission and homeland security.

Law enforcement and fire service witnesses described field experience with lockdown devices and training. Alan Thompson of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police said his membership "voices support for this concept," while Jim Wamsley of the Wyoming Fire Chiefs Association urged uniform, standardized locking hardware and warned against certain aftermarket barricade devices. Security-industry testimony cautioned that some secondary barricade devices have safety risks and that any approved devices should comply with the state's fire code. Jake Parker of the Security Industry Association said some aftermarket barricade devices can be dangerous and noted cases where such devices were misused.

Committee amendments tightened who develops the protocol and how the fire marshal provides input. Senators amended the bill to make the School Facilities Division — in consultation with security experts and the State Fire Marshal — the body that develops the protocol, and to have the State Fire Marshal provide advice to the School Facilities Division by July 1, 2025. The committee also changed the requirement to say the protocol must be "developed and communicated" rather than "published." Representative Pendergraft spoke in favor of the amendments as consistent with the bill's purpose of getting stakeholders working together.

The committee voted to pass House Bill 31 as amended. Roll call recorded four ayes and one excused: Senator Olson — aye; Senator Scott — aye; Chairwoman Schueller — aye; Senator Bridal left an aye vote on the record; Senator Rothfuss — excused. The bill moves forward with the amendments requiring consultation and development of a security protocol by the School Facilities Division.

Ending: The bill directs local boards to adopt or confirm safety plans and directs state-level coordination on approved door securement methods; it passed the Education Committee as amended and now moves on to the next procedural steps.