---
title: HB 1023. Education; utilize weapon detection systems in certain school buildings; require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1023
cite_as: HB 1023, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1023
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1023.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1023/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72353
date: 2026-03-31
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1022.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1024.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 841
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1023.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1023
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: Senate Tabled
sponsors:
- Chuck Efstration
- Jon Burns
- Chris Erwin
- James Hatchett
- Holt Persinger
- Sandy Donatucci
- Clint Dixon
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1023/2025
upstream_id: 2095277
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- school safety
- weapon detection
- gun policy
- public schools
- school security funding
---
# HB 1023. Education; utilize weapon detection systems in certain school buildings; require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies
## Text
The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to HB 1023:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to loitering at or disrupting schools, so as to require local boards of education and
other public school governing bodies to establish and provide for security measures to detect
weapons and to aid in the prevention of individuals attempting to unlawfully possess or carry
weapons in certain school buildings; to provide for exceptions; to authorize the use of
funding; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
loitering at or disrupting schools, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"20-2-1187.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'weapon' shall have the same meaning as set
forth in Code Section 16-11-127.1.
(b)(1) Each local board of education and other public school governing body shall
implement a weapon detection system and shall adopt policies, rules, regulations, and
procedures as necessary to establish and provide for security measures to:
(A) Detect, through electronic, analytical, visual, olfactory, or other means, the
presence of weapons; and
(B) Aid in the prevention of any individual attempting to unlawfully possess or carry
a weapon in any permanent building that is owned by or leased to a local board of
education or other public school governing body where students are present in
accordance with routine school operations and procedures.
(2) Such system, policies, rules, regulations, and procedures shall, at a minimum, require
that such security measures are utilized at all main points of entry to such permanent
buildings, as provided in school safety plans required under Code Section 20-2-1185;
provided, however, that such security measures shall not be required for any point of
entry to or exit from such permanent buildings that routinely remains locked, is equipped
with an alarm that sounds when the point of entry or exit is accessed, and is not intended
for student use or is intended for student use only on an emergency basis.
(c) Each local board of education and other public school governing body shall be
authorized to use available grants and other funding to meet the requirements of this Code
section."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2028.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate committee substitute for HB 1023 would require local school boards and other public school governing bodies to install weapon detection systems at school building entrances, starting January 1, 2028.
### Plain-language summary
Currently Georgia law does not require public schools to use weapon detection systems. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's school loitering and disruption law (O.C.G.A. Article 27, Chapter 2, Title 20) requiring every local board of education and other public school governing body to put in place a weapon detection system and related policies.
The system must use electronic, analytical, visual, smell-based, or other means to detect weapons and help stop anyone from unlawfully carrying a weapon into a school building where students are routinely present. At minimum, these measures must cover all main entry points identified in each school's required safety plan, though doors that stay locked, have alarms, and are not for regular student use are exempt. Schools can use grants or other funding to pay for compliance. The law would take effect January 1, 2028.
### What it does
- Requires local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to implement a weapon detection system in school buildings where students are routinely present.
- Directs schools to adopt policies and procedures to detect weapons using electronic, analytical, visual, smell-based, or other methods.
- Mandates that detection measures be used at all main entry points listed in each school's safety plan (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1185).
- Exempts entry or exit points that stay locked, have an alarm, and are not used regularly by students, from the detection requirement.
- Allows schools to use existing grants and other funding sources to pay for the required weapon detection measures.
- Sets the law's effective date as January 1, 2028.
### Who it affects
Local boards of education and other public school governing bodies across Georgia, which must install and maintain the systems; students, teachers, and staff who attend or work in affected school buildings; and anyone entering a school through its main entrances.
### Why it matters
Georgia public schools would be legally required to screen for weapons at main entrances starting in 2028, changing daily arrival routines for students and staff. Schools would need funding, likely from grants, to buy and maintain detection equipment and to update security procedures accordingly.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code Section 20-2-1187, defining 'weapon' by reference to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.1.
- Section 1 requires local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to implement a weapon detection system and adopt supporting policies and procedures.
- Section 1 requires the system to cover all main points of entry identified in a school's safety plan under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1185, with an exception for locked, alarmed, non-student-use doors.
- Section 1 authorizes use of grants and other funding to meet the requirements.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as January 1, 2028.
- Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-02-24)
- Last action: Senate Tabled (2026-03-31)
- Sponsors: Chuck Efstration, Jon Burns, Chris Erwin, James Hatchett, Holt Persinger, Sandy Donatucci, Clint Dixon
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72353
> The history, votes, and amendments (841 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1023.md?full=1