🔴Relating to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary school facilities and other emergencies.
HB 33
🔴 HB 33: School safety bill hides oversight and shifts power
What it says it does:
HB 33, called the “Uvalde Strong Act,” says it will make Texas schools safer after the Uvalde shooting. It requires every campus to have a ballistic shield and breaching tool, mandates annual emergency coordination meetings, creates a statewide active shooter training program at Texas State University, and offers grants to law enforcement agencies that get accredited.
What it actually changes:
The bill blocks public access to post-incident response reports and exempts review meetings from the Texas Public Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. It centralizes control of new law enforcement accreditation grants in the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division without a public scoring system or guaranteed audit. It gives DPS, TDEM, and ALERRT power to define “active shooter” and design reporting templates, reducing local input and transparency.
Who is pushing for it:
In the files, support came from Texas PTA, Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Ambulance Association, Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, Harris County Deputies’ Organization, Texas Municipal Police Association, Houston Police Officers’ Union, Texas Police Chiefs Association, and the cities of San Antonio and Sugar Land. No opponents were listed in the files.
Who benefits:
Law enforcement unions and departments gain grant access and liability protection. Texas State University’s ALERRT program becomes the statewide training gatekeeper. Equipment vendors benefit from mandated purchases. The Governor’s Office gains control of a politically valuable grant pipeline.
Who gets left out or exposed:
Parents and families lose the right to see how law enforcement performed after a school shooting. Local school boards lose say in emergency planning. Taxpayers fund un-audited grants. Small or rural school districts may struggle to meet mandates without support.
Why this matters long term:
HB 33 sets a precedent for using school safety as a reason to bypass public records, local oversight, and legislative checks. It normalizes discretionary funding streams inside the executive branch and creates a model where vendors and accreditors shape policy behind closed doors. Permanent local obligations are created but funding remains temporary or discretionary.
What to watch next:
Whether the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division publishes grant recipients or criteria. Whether DPS and TDEM release any version of post-incident reports. Whether future legislation adds guardrails such as timed transparency, independent scoring of grants, or full funding for local mandates.
Bottom line:
HB 33 presents itself as a safety measure but builds a structure that protects institutions from scrutiny, consolidates power inside the executive branch, and imposes unfunded mandates on schools. Real safety requires transparency, accountability, and equitable funding, not just new rules and hidden reports.
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