On Tuesday I published a guest post from Ken Cook, who answered a question about propping open classroom doors or preventing them from latching.  He listed so many resources on the importance of locked classroom doors that I had to split them into two posts!  In today’s post, Ken shares state laws addressing this topic.  

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From Ken:

As I discussed in the previous post, locked classroom doors are a crucial piece of school security and safety.  In addition to the resources I shared, there are at least six states that have passed legislation regarding locking classroom doors.

Texas

  • Legislation / Rule: Texas Administrative Code § 61.1031 (Texas Education Agency / TEA School Safety Standards Rule). Repleaded to 19 TAC § 103.1215, House Bill 3 (HB 3) (88th Texas Legislature)
  • Guidance / Requirement: Classroom doors (both interior and exterior) must remain closed and locked during instructional hours, except when students or staff are entering or leaving. Doors must be secured using hardware that allows occupants to unlock them from the inside with a single action (to comply with fire and life safety egress codes).
  • Effective Date: Emergency rule: August 2022, Permanent TEA rule: May 31, 2023, Codified via HB 3: September 1, 2023

Florida

  • Legislation / Rule: House Bill 1473 (HB 1473) (Amending Florida Statute § 1006.07)
  • Guidance / Requirement: All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by students, except between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces. If a classroom or other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for any reason other than between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at the door.
  • Effective Date: July 1, 2024 (Fully enforced for the 2024–2025 school year)

Tennessee

  • Legislation / Rule: Public Chapter 367 / Senate Bill 274 (House Bill 322) – Tennessee Department of Education / State Fire Marshal Directives
  • Guidance / Requirement: Passed following the Covenant School shooting, this law mandates that public school classroom doors must remain locked during instructional time when occupied, provided that locking the door complies with existing local fire and life-safety codes.
  • Effective Date: July 1, 2023

Utah

  • Legislation / Rule: House Bill 84 (HB 84) – School Safety Amendments
  • Guidance / Requirement: Mandates that all classroom doors must be capable of being locked from the inside and must remain locked while class is in session and students are present, unless granted a specific, documented exemption by the local safety specialist for structural or operational reasons.
  • Effective Date: May 1, 2024 (With phased implementation requirements for physical hardware upgrades through 2025)

Louisiana

  • Legislation / Rule: Act 821 (HB 624)
  • Guidance / Requirement: All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked and secured to prevent entry into the room when it is occupied by students, except between class periods. Provides that if a classroom or other instructional space must be left unlocked or open for any other reason, the door must be actively staffed by an authorized person standing or seated at the door.
  • Effective Date: August 1 2026

Arkansas

  • Legislation / Rule: Act 237 (The Arkansas LEARNS Act) – Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Rules Governing School Safety
  • Guidance / equirement: Requires public school districts to implement comprehensive school access control policies, which include keeping classroom doors locked during instructional periods when students are present.
  • Effective Date: August 2023 (Implemented for the 2023–2024 academic year)

This reminds me of the seat belt conversation that started in 1961 when Wisconsin became the first state to require seat belts in front seats but it took until 1995 until every state required occupants to wear seat belts.  We are dealing with changing the minds, hearts, and culture to save lives.

If your state has a similar law, please share a link in the comments so we can add the information to the list.

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