Gov. DeSantis Expands School Guardian Program to State Colleges and Universities
The law lets trained employees serve as armed guardians and requires new response plans, with 1,000-foot gun violations now carrying tougher penalties.
- On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 757 in Miami, expanding Florida's armed Guardian Program to include public colleges and universities for the first time.
- The legislation responds to the 2025 shooting at Florida State University and builds on the K-12 Guardian Program created after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland.
- Staff must complete 144 hours of training run by sheriff's offices, while institutions must develop active assailant response plans and establish threat management teams to identify early risks.
- Critics including Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action warn the move could increase risks, while supporters argue trained staff will deter attackers and reduce response times.
- The law creates a second-degree felony for discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a campus, with lawmakers planning to revisit implementation next year after evaluating results.
14 Articles
14 Articles
DeSantis signs bill expanding school safety rules to colleges
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday expanding Florida’s school safety framework to public colleges and universities, including by allowing higher education institutions to participate in the state’s armed guardian program. The measure was signed in Miami during the 5th Annual Commissioner’s Summit on school safety and security. DeSantis said the bill builds on policies adopted after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas H…
DeSantis signs law arming trained college, university faculty after FSU shooting
Gov. Ron DeSantis appears at the EAA Reservoir in Central Florida on April 13, 2026. (Photo courtesy governor's office)A year after a gunman opened fire on Florida State University, trained college and university faculty can carry guns onto campus under a bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Friday. “It puts the bad guys on the defense — they don’t know who’s going to be able to offer them resistance,” DeSantis said during a Miami press conference. “We…
DeSantis extends Florida school safety measures to colleges with new campus security law
MIAMI – Florida is expanding its school safety playbook to colleges and universities under a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, prompted in part by last year’s active‑shooter incident at Florida State University. DeSantis signed HB 757, calling it a continuation of a years-long push to harden campuses and tighten threat response. “We implemented the… The post DeSantis extends Florida school safety measures to colleges with new campus security …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
