DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa House passed HF 2586, a bill that allows for specially trained school staff to be armed on school grounds, on Wednesday by a 61 to 34 party-line vote. The bill follows a shooting at Perry High School in January that left five students and two school staff wounded, and killed principal Dan Marburger.
Under the legislation, school districts with an enrollment over 8,000 students are required to employ at least one school resource officer or private security officer. The bill also creates a grant program to match funds to help school districts fund these positions.
The bill also creates a new permit that allows a school employee to carry weapons. The permit requires the school employee to complete a prescribed firearms safety training course before being issued a permit. Those receiving permits shall also receive one-time, in-person legal training. Those with permits are also required to complete annual emergency medical training, and communications training approved by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The department under the bill will implement required annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearm training for school employees of a school district, private school, or an institution of higher education that has opted into participating in the professional permitting of school employees.
State and federal law currently allow for Iowa school districts to arm school staff. However, insurance companies have denied coverage to districts that have attempted to do this. School boards in two districts in northwest Iowa voted to implement armed staff in 2023, but cancelled plans when EMC Insurance, based in Des Moines, notified the districts that their insurance policies would not be renewed if their plans went into effect.
HF 2586 provides qualified immunity from criminal or civil damages for school staff and school districts that comply with the training requirements should they respond to a threat.
Read the bill below:
HF2586
