By: McLaughlin	H.B. No. 3587

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to firearm safety instruction in public schools and
	certain private schools.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 28.0123 to read as follows.
	Sec. 28.0123.  FIREARM SAFETY INSTRUCTION.  (a)  The State
	Board of Education by rule shall require instruction in firearm
	safety for students in grades 6 through 12.
	(b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	shall provide instruction in firearm safety to students in grades 6
	through 12 in a manner consistent with the requirements of this
	section and State Board of Education rules adopted under this
	section.  The instruction may be provided as a part of any course.
	Each student enrolled in the district or school shall receive the
	instruction at least once before the student's high school
	graduation.
	(c)  The instruction required under this section:
	(1)  must:
	(A)  be based on a firearms accident prevention
	program that has been in operation for at least 30 years;
	(B)  be designed to help parents, law enforcement,
	community groups, and educators navigate firearm safety with
	students in an age-appropriate manner;
	(C)  be developed by a task force that includes
	educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban
	housing safety officials, clinical psychologists, law enforcement
	officials, and firearm safety experts from a national rifle
	association; and
	(D)  provide instruction on simple, easy to
	remember steps for a student to follow if the student encounters a
	firearm; and
	(2)  may not:
	(A)  include instruction on firearm operation or
	qualifications for the carry or use of a firearm;
	(B)include instruction related to hunting; or
	(C)  use operational firearms as part of the
	instruction.
	(d)  The instruction required under this section must be
	provided by:
	(1)  an instructor who is certified by a recognized
	national or state association, including:
	(A)  a firearm association;
	(B)  a civilian marksmanship program; or
	(C)  any private institution, academy, or
	organization that provides firearms training as described by this
	section; or
	(2)  an active or retired law enforcement officer, as
	defined by Section 411.441, Government Code.
	(e)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	shall excuse a student from instruction under this section without
	subjecting the student to any disciplinary action, academic
	penalty, or other sanction if:
	(1)  the student's parent or legal guardian submits a
	written request that the student be excused from the instruction;
	or
	(2)  for a student enrolled in the district's or
	school's special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29,
	the student's admissions, review, and dismissal committee
	determines that the instruction is not appropriate for the student.
	(f)  At least two weeks before the date on which a school
	district or open-enrollment charter school plans to provide
	instruction under this section, the district or school shall
	provide written notice to the parent or legal guardian of each
	student enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in the district or school of
	the intent to provide instruction under this section.  The notice
	must include:
	(1)  a summary of the basic content of the instruction
	to be provided to the student; and
	(2)  a statement of the parent's or legal guardian's
	right to remove the student from any part of the instruction as
	provided by Subsection (e)(1).
	(g)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
	accept donations from any source for equipment or services, other
	than operational firearms, for use in providing the instruction
	required under this section.
	(h)  This section applies to a private school that receives
	state money related to the provision of education or educational
	services to a student who is eligible under Section 25.001 for
	admission to a public school.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
	school year.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.