✅Relating to the open carrying of a handgun by a uniformed school marshal.

✅ SB 870: Clarifies open carry in uniform for school marshals statewide

What it says it does:
Lets trained school marshals carry a handgun on campus. Open carry is allowed only when the marshal wears a uniform that clearly identifies them. Local boards must adopt written regulations and assign marshals to specific campuses. Frangible duty ammunition approved by TCOLE is required. Applies beginning with the 2025 to 2026 school year, with immediate effect possible if the vote threshold was met.

What it actually changes:
Removes confusion about open carry. If a board’s written policy allows it and the marshal is in a clearly marked uniform, open carry is lawful. For public junior colleges, local rules cannot require an on duty marshal to keep the handgun locked in a container. Most details remain under local policy.

Who is pushing for it:
Files show support or registration from school associations, educator groups, a police officers union, and a gun rights group. Agencies noted include the Attorney General’s Office, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and Texas Education Agency.

Who benefits:
Communities that want a clearly identified, trained marshal presence. Parents and staff who need simple, posted rules about what is allowed on their campus. Boards that prefer local control over security posture.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Stakeholders at public junior colleges who prefer on duty lockbox storage. They still control training and coordination, but they cannot require locked storage while a marshal is on duty.

Why this matters long term:
Creates a consistent baseline statewide so districts, charters, private schools, and junior colleges are not guessing what is legal. Encourages clear identification and policy transparency, which can reduce confusion during emergencies if boards publish standards and train to them.

What to watch next:
Public posting of each board’s marshal policy and uniform standard. Verification of the ammunition rule and training refreshers. Coordination with local law enforcement to prevent misidentification. How junior colleges implement on person carry while on duty.

Bottom line:
A straightforward green bill. It clarifies what marshals may do and keeps control with local boards. The only state limit is at junior colleges on on duty storage. No new funding pipelines or vendor carveouts are in the files.

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