SB 870 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the open carrying of a handgun by a uniformed school marshal.

SB 870 allows uniformed school marshals in Texas public schools, charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges to openly carry handguns on school premises when wearing a uniform identifying them as marshals. The bill amends existing law to replace previous restrictions on "concealed" carry with this open-carry option, while maintaining requirements that marshals must follow written school board regulations and use only frangible duty ammunition approved by Texas law enforcement. It applies to all school marshals appointed by governing bodies and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill does not change who can serve as a school marshal or alter the requirement for firearms to be stored securely when not in use.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · May 19, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Texas Education Code sections governing school marshal handgun carry rights, clarifying that school marshals can carry concealed handguns, openly carry when in uniform, or store handguns in secure locations on school premises. The changes standardize regulations across public schools, charter schools, and junior colleges, while maintaining requirements for frangible ammunition and specific storage conditions.

Scope change

The bill applies to school marshals appointed by public school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, private schools, and public junior colleges, with no change to the overall scope of applicability.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that school marshals may carry concealed handguns, openly carry when wearing identifying uniforms, or possess handguns in locked secure locations on school premises

Maintained requirement that handguns be loaded only with frangible duty ammunition approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Preserved prohibition against requiring school marshals to store handguns in locked containers while on duty

TIMELINE

Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year with potential immediate effect if two-thirds legislative vote is achieved

MODIFIED

Minor formatting and text cleanup changes to bill structure and numbering

Floor votes · Senate Apr 23, 2025 · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

22–8

Passed

Total votes 30

Apr 23, 2025

D Democratic10

2 Yea 8 Nay

80% Nay

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 19, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

House passage reported

upper

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (22-8)

senate

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors