---
title: SB 454. Regulation of Fire and Other Hazards; use of temporary door locking devices in public buildings during certain emergency situations; authorize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb454
cite_as: SB 454, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72763
date: 2026-04-02
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 787
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 454
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-03-06
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- Ricky Williams
- John Albers
- Randy Robertson
- Jason Anavitarte
- Lee Anderson
- Shawn Still
- Bo Hatchett
- Greg Dolezal
- Russ Goodman
- Clint Dixon
- Frank Ginn
- Drew Echols
- Chuck Payne
- Jason Ridley
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB454/2025
upstream_id: 2104365
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- school safety
- fire code
- building security
- active shooter response
- liability immunity
---
# SB 454. Regulation of Fire and Other Hazards; use of temporary door locking devices in public buildings during certain emergency situations; authorize
## Text
The House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security offers the following
substitute to SB 454:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
regulation of fire and other hazards to persons and property generally, so as to authorize the
use of temporary door locking devices in public buildings during certain emergency
situations; to provide for guidelines for use of such devices; to provide for rules and
regulations; to provide for definitions; 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
authorize the local board of education or other governing body of each public and private
elementary and secondary school in this state to install key boxes at each school building;
to provide for the purpose, content, and minimum standards of such key boxes; to provide
for policies and procedures; to provide for immunity from civil liability; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 2 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of fire
and other hazards to persons and property generally, is amended by adding a new Code
section to read as follows:
"25-2-37.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Public building' means any structure which is generally open to members of the
public with or without the payment of an admission fee or membership dues including,
but not limited to, structures owned, operated, or leased by the state, the United States or
any state thereof, any foreign nation, or any political subdivision or authority thereof; any
religious organization; any medical facility; any child care learning center; any college,
school, or university; or any corporation, partnership, or association.
(2) 'Temporary door locking device' means a device that prevents a door from opening,
provided that the device:
(A) Can be engaged or removed without opening the door and removed with a single
operation when engaged;
(B) Can be engaged and removed from the egress side of the door without the use of
a key and removed from the ingress side of the door with the use of a key or other
credential;
(C) Does not modify the door closer or any panic hardware or fire exit hardware;
(D) Is not permanently mounted to the door assembly; provided, however, that
individual parts of the device assembly, including, but not limited to, bolts, stops,
brackets, and pins that do not prevent normal function of the door, may be permanently
mounted; and
(E) Does not affect the fire rating of the door and complies with national fire protection
association fire rating standards.
(b) A temporary door locking device may be used in a public building to secure a door to
a room, or to secure a fire exit, hallway, corridor, or entranceway leading to a fire exit,
provided that such device is:
(1) Used only during an emergency active threat situation or drill, including, but not
limited to, sheltering in place or lockdown;
(2) Installed at a height not to exceed 48 inches above the floor; and
(3) Integrated into building safety plans, drills, and training programs that include
in-service training on the use of such devices for building staff, and that such plans and
programs are made available to first responders.
(c) If a temporary door locking device is to be used for securing a fire exit, hallway,
corridor, or entranceway leading to a fire exit, in addition to the requirements under
subsection (b) of this Code section, such device shall be approved by the local fire
department, local law enforcement agency, state fire marshal, or local fire marshal prior to
use.
(d) The Commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this Code section."
SECTION 2.
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) The local board of education or other governing body of each public and private
elementary and secondary school in this state may provide for the installation at each
school of at least one exterior key box that meets or exceeds Underwriters Laboratories
Standard 1037.
(b) Each key box under subsection (a) of this Code section shall:
(1) Be installed at an appropriate location for permitting local law enforcement officers
emergency access to such building, the precise location of which shall be determined by
such local board of education or other governing body; and
(2) Contain such keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each
building and room located on the entire school grounds.
(c) The local board of education or other governing body of each public and private
elementary and secondary school in this state shall adopt such policies and procedures as
are necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section.
(d)(1) Local boards of education, other public and private school governing bodies, local
school systems, other public and private schools, and local governments and agencies
shall be immune from civil liability for any damages arising out of the installation and
use of key boxes under subsection (a) of this Code section.
(2) Employees of local boards of education, other public and private school governing
bodies, local school systems, other public and private schools, and local governments and
agencies shall be immune from civil liability for any damages arising out of the
installation and use of key boxes under subsection (a) of this Code section unless it is
shown that such employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith."
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 bill would let public buildings use temporary door locking devices during active threats or lockdown drills, and let schools install police key boxes for emergency access.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law does not currently address temporary door locking devices used during active shooter situations or lockdowns, or set standards for emergency key boxes at schools. This bill fills that gap. It adds a new section to the fire safety code (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37.1) allowing public buildings, including government buildings, religious organizations, medical facilities, child care centers, and schools, to use temporary devices that lock doors from the inside during emergencies or drills, with safety requirements such as a 48-inch maximum installation height and no permanent modification to fire exit hardware.
The bill also adds a section to the school loitering law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1187) letting local school boards or private school governing bodies install exterior key boxes so local police can quickly access buildings in an emergency. Schools, school systems, and their employees are shielded from civil lawsuits over installing or using these key boxes unless an employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia Code section (25-2-37.1) authorizing temporary door locking devices in public buildings during active threat situations or lockdown drills.
- Sets technical safety standards for these devices, including a 48-inch maximum mounting height and a rule against modifying fire exit hardware or affecting a door's fire rating.
- Requires devices used on fire exits or hallways leading to fire exits to get prior approval from a local fire department, fire marshal, or law enforcement agency.
- Directs the state Fire Safety Commissioner to write rules and regulations to implement the new law.
- Authorizes public and private K-12 school governing bodies to install UL-certified exterior key boxes so police can get emergency building access.
- Grants schools, school systems, local governments, and their employees immunity from civil lawsuits over key box installation and use, unless an employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith.
### Who it affects
Public buildings generally, including government offices, religious organizations, medical facilities, child care centers, colleges, and schools; building owners and staff who must integrate the devices into safety plans; local fire departments, fire marshals, and police agencies; and public and private K-12 school boards, school employees, and local governments covered by the new liability immunity.
### Why it matters
Buildings would gain a legal, standardized way to quickly lock doors during an active threat without violating fire codes, and schools could give police a faster way into buildings during emergencies. The liability shield could also make schools and local governments harder to sue over injuries connected to these devices.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37.1, defining 'public building' broadly and defining 'temporary door locking device' with technical requirements (single-operation removal, no key needed from inside, no permanent door modification).
- Subsection (b) limits use of these devices to active threat situations or drills, requires installation no higher than 48 inches, and requires the devices be built into safety plans and staff training.
- Subsection (c) requires devices used on fire exits or exit routes to be approved in advance by fire or law enforcement officials.
- Subsection (d) directs the Commissioner to adopt implementing rules and regulations.
- Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1187, letting K-12 school governing bodies install at least one exterior key box meeting Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037.
- Subsection (b) requires the key box location to allow police emergency access and to contain keys or access devices for the entire school grounds.
- Subsection (d) grants civil immunity to schools, school systems, local governments, and their employees over key box installation and use, except for employee gross negligence or bad faith.
- Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-03-06)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-04-02)
- Sponsors: Ricky Williams, John Albers, Randy Robertson, Jason Anavitarte, Lee Anderson, Shawn Still, Bo Hatchett, Greg Dolezal, Russ Goodman, Clint Dixon, Frank Ginn, Drew Echols, Chuck Payne, Jason Ridley
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72763
> The history, votes, and amendments (787 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454.md?full=1