Politics · Education policy · published 2026-10-13 · via Governing

Florida Colleges Decline New Program Allowing Armed Staff

Florida's HB 757 expanded the state's School Guardian Program to let university presidents appoint trained faculty and staff to carry firearms on campus, with requirements including 144 hours of training, drug tests, and psychological evaluations. Gun safety groups tracking the voluntary program say no college or university has publicly opted in. The University of South Florida said it is reviewing implementation requirements with the Florida Board of Governors.

Expanded Detail

Florida's HB 757, approved during the 2026 regular session, broadened the state's School Guardian Program—originally established for K-12 schools after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre—to include public colleges and universities. Under the measure, a university president could designate faculty or staff to carry firearms if they complete 144 hours of training and pass drug and psychological screenings.

The program is voluntary. Gun safety organizations tracking participation report that no college or university has publicly joined. The University of South Florida said it is reviewing the program's requirements with the Florida Board of Governors. Lawmakers cited a 2025 Florida State University shooting that killed two people and wounded five.

Count: First para: Florida's(1) HB(2) 757(3), approved(4) during(5) the(6) 2026(7) regular(8) session(9), broadened(10) the(11) state's(12) School(13) Guardian(14) Program(15)—originally(16) established(17) for(18) K-12(19) schools(20) after(21) the(22) 2018(23) Marjory(24) Stoneman(25) Douglas(26) High(27) School(28) massacre(29)—to(30) include(31) public(32) colleges(33) and(34) universities(35). Under(36) the(37) measure(38), a(39) university(40) president(41) could(42) designate(43) faculty(44) or(45) staff(46) to(47) carry(48) firearms(49) if(50) they(51) complete(52) 144(53) hours(54) of(55) training(56) and(57) pass(58) drug(59) and(60) psychological(61) screenings(62). Second: The(63) program(64) is(65) vo

Context

... Need maybe blank line between sections? Fine. "EXPANDED:" then paragraphs. "CONTEXT:" then paragraph. No markdown? Plain text. We can include em dash? Fine. Need ensure expanded total under 120. We have 113. Good. But "Florida's HB 757, approved during the 2026 regular session, broadened the state's School Guardian Program—originally established for K-12 schools after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre—to include college and university campuses." Does material say "approved during 2026 regular session" yes passed during 2026 regular legislative session. "broadened" yes expanded. "originally established for K-12 schools after 2018..." yes. "include college and university campuses" yes. "Under the measure, a university president could designate faculty or staff to carry firearms if they complete 144 hours of training and pass drug and psychological screenings." Material says allowing professors and other people appointed by university president to carry weapons; c

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

Read the full article at Governing →

This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Florida Expanded Its Armed Campus Program. No Colleges Have Signed On..” Browse more stories.