MIAMI — Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 757 at the 5th Annual Commissioner’s Summit on school safety, extending Florida’s armed Guardian Program to public colleges and universities and creating a new second-degree felony for discharging a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school.
The law marks the most significant expansion of campus security requirements since the Guardian Program was created in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Under HB 757, public postsecondary institutions must develop active assailant response plans, establish threat management teams to identify potential safety risks, and create family reunification procedures for emergencies.
“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,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “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.”
The Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program allows trained individuals to serve as armed guardians on school campuses. Guardians must undergo psychological evaluations, drug screenings, and at least 144 hours of training provided by local sheriffs’ offices. Until now, the program applied only to K-12 schools.
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas framed the expansion as a direct extension of the state’s existing framework. “Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has set the national standard for school safety, and House Bill 757 builds on that strong foundation by extending critical protections to our state colleges and universities,” Kamoutsas said. “By extending the Guardian Program to higher education institutions, we are equipping campuses with additional tools to help safeguard students and professors. 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.”
Since taking office, DeSantis has directed $1.6 billion through the Safe Schools Allocation to support school safety officers, guardians, and other campus security initiatives. Additional investments include $955 million in the Mental Health Allocation for student mental health services, $258 million for school hardening grants and facility security improvements, $103 million for technology services supporting safe schools programs, and $83 million for Jewish Day Schools to help protect against antisemitism.
Smaller but targeted funding lines include $39 million for mental health awareness professional development for teachers, $34 million for Guardian Program training and expansion, and $21 million for the Canine Program and District Threat Management Coordinators.
Florida’s public colleges and universities will now begin developing the active assailant response plans and threat management teams required under HB 757, with institutions expected to have compliance frameworks in place ahead of the fall semester.