Sponsors (10)
2 meetings related to this legislation
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a national school security strategy to protect elementary and secondary schools from terrorism and related threats. DHS must deliver the strategy to specified House and Senate committees and brief them within one year of enactment, then update the strategy as needed (including the possibility of annual updates through 2033). The strategy must identify federal programs and authorities, assess vulnerabilities, set goals and measurable objectives, and list concrete actions (including coordination, technical assistance, and gaps). The law creates a planning and reporting requirement for DHS but does not itself appropriate funds or direct specific state/local actions.
Adds a new section (2220F) to Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 establishing a national strategy to secure schools from threats of terrorism.
The Secretary (of Homeland Security) must, not later than one year after enactment, submit a national school security strategy to certain House and Senate committees and must brief those committees on the strategy.
The Secretary must prepare the strategy in consultation and cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and departments.
If appropriate, the Secretary shall update the strategy annually through 2033 and brief the same committees on any updates.
If no update is provided in a given year, the Secretary must submit a certification to the committees stating that there was no update that year.
Primary effects are on federal planning and on schools that will be the subject of the strategy. Department of Homeland Security will need staff, interagency input, and expert consultation to prepare the required strategy and to maintain updates — creating an administrative workload for DHS. Elementary and secondary schools (K–12), school districts, school administrators, teachers, students, and parents are indirect beneficiaries: they may receive clearer federal guidance, prioritized actions, and improved federal coordination on threat assessment, training, technical assistance, and grant use. Local law enforcement and state education agencies could be more closely coordinated with federal efforts and may be asked to participate in assessments, trainings, or exercises. Because the statute does not provide implementation funding, many recommended actions in the strategy (hardening facilities, new equipment, new staffing, expanded training) would require separate appropriations or local spending decisions; that gap could limit how quickly districts can act on any DHS recommendations. Finally, congressional committees will have a defined reporting product and formal briefings for oversight and potential follow-up legislation or appropriations.
Last progress November 20, 2025 (3 months ago)
Introduced on March 21, 2025 by Tony Gonzales
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4785)
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Updated 5 hours ago
Last progress December 15, 2025 (2 months ago)