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Tense hearing on bill to require armed school resource officers statewide draws divided testimony
Summary
Senate Bill 644 would require that school law-enforcement personnel be allowed to carry firearms in schools when they receive state funds for school-resource-officer programs; Baltimore City and other local boards opposed, sponsors said the law protects students.
Senate Bill 644 (sponsor notation per transcript: Senate Bill 6 44) would require school resource officers or law-enforcement officers assigned to schools and receiving state funding to carry firearms while on duty, and would preempt local decisions to disarm school officers who receive state funds. The bill drew sharply divided testimony in the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, with sponsors framing the proposal as a public-safety measure after several school shootings and local education officials and Baltimore City representatives opposing a statewide mandate.
Senator JB Jennings, the bill sponsor, described recent active-shooter incidents and said armed officers provide protection, citing his experience responding to school shootings and the comfort many parents and students feel when armed protection is present. He said the statute should prevent local boards from disarming funded school officers. Doctor Marvin Cheatham, speaking from Baltimore’s Western District as a neighborhood leader, testified the city’s schools already experience high community violence and argued for stronger protection in campuses such as Carver High School.
Opposition testimony focused on local control, equity and community trust. Testimony submitted by the Baltimore City school system (and referenced by witnesses) opposed a mandate requiring firearms; some witnesses and board representatives said the local school board had considered the issue and preferred local policies. Senators asked clarifying questions about which jurisdictions currently arm officers: witnesses said most jurisdictions’ SROs are law enforcement who are armed, while Baltimore City maintains separate school police with different policies.
Committee members questioned whether the bill would override local school-board decisions and how many jurisdictions currently disarm officers. Sponsor argued that counties receiving state funds should meet uniform safety conditions. Opponents said a one-size-fits-all state mandate could undermine community relationships and exacerbate disparities. The committee closed the hearing after extended questioning and no immediate vote.
