Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed legislation expanding school safety and campus security measures to colleges and universities across Florida, state officials announced Friday.
The governor signed House Bill 757 during the 5th Annual Commissioner’s Summit focused on school safety and security in Miami.
The legislation comes just over a year after a gunman opened fire at Florida State University’s student union on April 17, 2025, killing two people and injuring six others before being shot by police, according to investigators.
According to the governor’s office, the new law strengthens protections for students, faculty and staff at public postsecondary institutions and builds on the state’s existing school safety framework.
“We’ve made historic strides to implement school safety measures that are working to protect our schools. Today, I was proud to build on these efforts by signing HB 757, which enhances campus security requirements and best practices at our colleges and universities throughout Florida,” DeSantis said in a statement.
“We can have the highest academic standards, the strongest workforce programs, and the most innovative pathways for students, but must also continue our focus on the safety of our students and educators,” he added.
The legislation expands participation in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to include Florida’s public colleges and universities.
The Guardian Program was established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Under the program, specially trained individuals may serve as armed guardians on school campuses to deter and respond to active assailant incidents. Participants are required to undergo psychological evaluations, drug screenings and at least 144 hours of training conducted by local sheriffs’ offices.
The new law also creates a second-degree felony offense for discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
Additionally, public colleges and universities will now be required to develop active assailant response plans, establish threat management teams to identify and address safety risks, and create family reunification procedures for emergency situations.
Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida’s commissioner of education, said the legislation further strengthens the state’s reputation as a national leader in school safety.
“By extending the Guardian Program to higher education institutions, we are equipping campuses with additional tools to help safeguard students and professors,” Kamoutsas said.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment, and this legislation reinforces Florida’s unwavering commitment to protect our schools,” he added.
