Public schools would teach firearm safety and ways to calm conflicts

Public schools would teach firearm safety and ways to calm conflicts each year, starting in kindergarten. The Center for Safer Schools would develop both subjects. Firearm lessons would cover safe handling and storage, what to do when finding a gun, and basic emergency help. Parents or legal guardians could opt children out of either or both subjects, but would need to renew the request each school year. Lessons would fit students' ages and grades and stay neutral on political topics. Firearm lessons could not include live firearms, live ammunition, or live shooting. Classroom firearm instructors would need an active or retired law enforcement background or certification from a listed organization. Conflict instructors would be behavioral or mental health professionals with training or experience working with children and adolescents. Lessons would start in the 2026–2027 school year. The one-time $250,000 from the General Fund would be for fiscal year 2026–2027, effective July 1, 2026. Other school provisions would take effect when the bill becomes law.

Court clerks would search statewide electronic records and promptly send authorized mental health records to the sheriff reviewing a concealed handgun permit application. The search would cover records about the applicant's mental health or capacity. Applicants and sheriffs presenting the release could access the applicant's court records of mental health commitment proceedings for that purpose. The clerk would need an original or copied release form signed by the applicant authorizing the release of records. The Administrative Office of the Courts could use available eCourts implementation or maintenance money to build the search system. The search and access rules would apply to applications on or after December 1, 2026. The Administrative Office of the Courts would need the search system ready by that date.

Magistrates and judges could issue mental health custody orders on their own initiative for a party appearing before them. The authority would cover parties in proceedings before a magistrate or a judge handling a civil or criminal case. The official would need reasonable grounds to believe the person meets the legal requirements for involuntary commitment, a process that can require mental health care without consent. Other legal exceptions would still apply, and the usual commitment process would follow. The official who issues the order could not preside over any other commitment hearing for that person. These provisions would take effect October 1, 2026, and apply to proceedings on or after that date.

The Department of Public Safety would receive $474,680 from the General Fund in each of fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 for pilot mental health crisis-response teams. The teams would respond to calls involving mental health crises or people with mental health issues. These limited-term funds would be split equally among all counties. The money would pay for full-time mental health professionals paired with law enforcement on dedicated teams or specialized units. The intended staffing locations are unclear. If enacted, this funding section would take effect retroactively to July 1, 2025.