HB 3 for the 2026–27 School Year: What Districts Must Have in Place

For the 2026–27 school year, every Texas school district and open-enrollment charter must ensure at least one armed person is present at each campus during regular school hours under Texas Education Code §37.0814 (HB 3, 2023). A district that cannot meet the standard at every campus may claim the statute's good-cause exception and adopt an alternative standard.

The good-cause exception

A board that claims good cause must provide an alternative that still ensures campus safety, and it must revisit that determination on a regular basis. Two pathways satisfy the alternative standard: a school marshal appointed under the Texas School Marshal program, or an employee who carries under the district's guardian plan after completing the DPS school safety course.

Where the Guardian pathway fits

The guardian pathway lets a district authorize screened, trained employees to carry on campus. Completing the school safety course adds the DPS school safety endorsement to the participant's License to Carry — one of three endorsements DPS issues. If the License to Carry lapses, the endorsement drops with it, and the participant must retake the initial course to restore it.

• HB 3 compliance guide — the requirement, the exception, and what to document.
• Guardian program training — how a district stands up a guardian plan.
• Marshal vs. Guardian — how the two pathways compare.

What to have ready

Whether your district meets the requirement with a contracted officer or an alternative standard, the board's determination and its supporting documentation should be current before the first day of instruction. If you want a second read on your plan, our team can walk through it with you.