Florida 2026 Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

SB 896 — School Safety

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 757 (Ch. 2026-80)

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced December 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 28% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

School Safety; Requiring sheriffs to assist public postsecondary educational institutions in implementing guardian programs under certain provisions; authorizing public postsecondary educational institutions to participate in the school guardian program; creating the offense of discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

331 added · 333 removed

331 line(s) added, 333 removed.

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Latest
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 By the Committees on Appropriations;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 By the Committee on Criminal Justice;
and Criminal Justice;
and Senator Gaetz 591-02772-26 2026896c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to school safety;
and Senator Gaetz 576-03169-26 2026896c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to school safety;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 information relating to school safety;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 information relating to school safety;
402.305(19)(a), 843.08, 943.03(16), and 1001.212(1), (4), and (10), F.S., relating to licensing standards and child care facilities, false Page 2 of 35 CODING:
402.305(19)(a), 843.08, 943.03(16), and 1001.212(1), (4), and (10), F.S., relating to licensing standards and child care facilities;
false Page 2 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 personation, Department of Law Enforcement, and Office of Safe Schools, respectively, to incorporate the amendments made by the act;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 personation;
Department of Law Enforcement;
and Office of Safe Schools, respectively, to incorporate the amendments made by the act;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 program to provide training for school guardians or school security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school district, charter school, public postsecondary educational institution, private school, child care facility, or security agency employees, either directly or through a contract with another sheriff’s office that has established a guardian program.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 program to provide training for school guardians or school security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school district, charter school, public postsecondary educational institution, private school, child care facility, or security agency employees, either directly or through a contract with another sheriff’s office that has established a guardian program.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as a school security guard in a school.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as a school security guard in a school.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees, as specified in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees, as specified in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 c.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 c.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 determines that the school security guard has met all the requirements of s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 determines that the school security guard has met all the requirements of s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the name of the school district, charter school, public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the employing security agency of a school security guard, any information provided pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the name of the school district, charter school, public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the employing security agency of a school security guard, any information provided pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 1.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 1.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 injury.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 injury.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 enforcement officer.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 enforcement officer.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 minor victims;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 minor victims;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 platform.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 platform.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 supervision, resulting in great bodily harm.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 supervision, resulting in great bodily harm.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 Section 5.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 Section 5.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 Section 6.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 Section 6.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and oversight for all school safety and security personnel, policies, and procedures in the school district.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and oversight for all school safety and security personnel, policies, and procedures in the school district.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 postsecondary educational institution” has the same meaning as in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 postsecondary educational institution” has the same meaning as in s.
(b) An employee or a faculty member, who is not a student, of a public postsecondary educational institution may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s.
(b) An employee or faculty member of a public postsecondary educational institution may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s.
Page 26 of 35 CODING:
1.
Train faculty to detect and respond to mental health Page 26 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 1.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 issues as well as connect students who may experience behavioral health issues with appropriate services, both on campus and in the community, including crisis intervention.
Train faculty to detect and respond to mental health issues as well as connect students who may experience behavioral health issues with appropriate services, both on campus and in the community, including crisis intervention.
(c) Security risk assessment.—Each public postsecondary Page 27 of 35 CODING:
(c) Security risk assessment.—Each public postsecondary educational institution shall collaborate with appropriate Page 27 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 educational institution shall collaborate with appropriate public safety agencies as defined in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 public safety agencies as defined in s.
1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the protection and safety of school personnel, property, students, and visitors, each district school board and school district superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school Page 28 of 35 CODING:
1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the protection and safety of school personnel, property, students, and visitors, each district school board and school district superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school officers at each school facility within the district, including Page 28 of 35 CODING:
Show all 59 changed rows (19 more)
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Latest
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 officers at each school facility within the district, including charter schools.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 charter schools.
493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license Page 29 of 35 CODING:
493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and Page 29 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and contractual conditions are met:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 contractual conditions are met:
Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon Page 30 of 35 CODING:
Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff Page 30 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 pursuant to s.
1006.12(1)- Page 31 of 35 CODING:
1006.12(1)- (4).
The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of Page 31 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 (4).
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 implementing any such option, which includes all training costs under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program under s.
The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of implementing any such option, which includes all training costs under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program under s.
901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such, or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a Page 32 of 35 CODING:
901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such, or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
Page 32 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 775.082, s.
775.082, s.
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07, Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4), and (10) Page 33 of 35 CODING:
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07, Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4), and (10) of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
Page 33 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools.
1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools.
(10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and Page 34 of 35 CODING:
(10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and education materials on the proper use of the School Safety Page 34 of 35 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 896 576-03169-26 2026896c2 education materials on the proper use of the School Safety Awareness Program developed pursuant to s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896 591-02772-26 2026896c1 Awareness Program developed pursuant to s.
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Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 757 (Ch. 2026-80) -SJ 824

  2. Substituted CS/CS/HB 757 -SJ 824

  3. Read 2nd time -SJ 824

  4. Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 747

  5. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/10/26

  6. CS/CS by Appropriations read 1st time

  7. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  8. Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  9. CS/CS by- Appropriations; YEAS 11 NAYS 6

  10. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/24/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building

  11. CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time

  12. Now in Appropriations

  13. Remaining references corrected to Appropriations

  14. Original reference(s) removed: Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Rules

  15. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  16. CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 7 NAYS 1

  17. On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 02/11/26, 3:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

  18. Introduced

  19. Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Rules

  20. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (163)

163 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 163 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 11 Yea · 6 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 11200
Democrat 0400
No Party Affiliation 0001
Total 11601
% of votes cast 61%33%0%6%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Berman, Lori Democrat Nay
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Nay
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Nay
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Nay
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Not Voting
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Nay
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Massullo, Ralph E., Jr. Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Smith, David Republican Nay
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 896 do?
School Safety; Requiring sheriffs to assist public postsecondary educational institutions in implementing guardian programs under certain provisions; authorizing public postsecondary educational institutions to participate in the school guardian program; creating the offense of discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, etc.
Who sponsors SB 896?
SB 896 is sponsored by Gaetz, Don (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 896?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced December 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 896?
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