HB 3142 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to school marshals, including eligibility for appointment as a school marshal, and licensure and training requirements.

HB 3142 sets new requirements for school marshals in Texas public and private schools. To qualify, a person must either hold a specific license under Texas law or be a volunteer who is a veteran, active military member, peace officer, reserve officer, or retired peace officer. School districts, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges must appoint marshals meeting these standards. The bill also allows school districts to reimburse volunteers for training costs related to the marshal role. This directly affects school districts, volunteers, and individuals seeking to serve as school marshals.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 13, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates eligibility and training requirements for school marshals across school districts, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges. It clarifies that volunteers must meet specific criteria (veterans, peace officers, reserve officers, or retired officers) and adds reimbursement provisions for training costs. The bill also refines definitions and reporting requirements for the training program.

Scope change

The bill expands clarity on which entities can appoint school marshals and standardizes eligibility criteria across all school types, while adding specific provisions for public junior colleges.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new subsection (b-1) allowing school districts and charter schools to reimburse applicants for training costs, though not required to do so.

Updated eligibility criteria for school marshals to explicitly require certification under Section 1701.260 for employees and specific qualifications for volunteers.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection (a-2) defining 'private school' to match the definition in the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Revised training program eligibility to clearly distinguish between employees (who must hold a handgun license) and volunteers (who must meet specific veteran or law enforcement criteria).

ENFORCEMENT

Updated revocation procedures to clarify when school marshal licenses are revoked due to handgun license suspension or revocation.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · House May 12, 2025

How they voted

92–50

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 146

May 12, 2025

D Democratic59

8 Yea 50 Nay 1

84% Nay

R Republican87

84 Yea 3

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

May 19, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

May 12, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (92-50-4)

house

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

5 primary · 6 co-sponsors