SB 466: Local Board of Education; install key boxes at each school building in locations determined in collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies; require

Currently Georgia law does not require schools to have key boxes that let first responders quickly get into school buildings during an emergency. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's school safety code requiring local boards of education and private school governing bodies to install at least one exterior key box at each school building. The key box would have to meet a national safety standard (Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037) and be placed where local police and emergency management agencies agree it should go. It would need to hold keys and access devices for the whole campus, not just one building. Schools must adopt policies to carry this out. The requirement only kicks in if the General Assembly provides funding, and the bill shields schools, local governments, and their employees from civil lawsuits over installing or using the boxes unless an employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith.

• Requires local boards of education and private school governing bodies to install at least one exterior key box at each school building, but only if the General Assembly appropriates funding for it.
• Sets a minimum safety standard for the key boxes, requiring them to meet or exceed Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037.
• Requires the box location to be chosen jointly by school officials, local law enforcement, and local emergency management agencies.
• Requires the key box to contain keys and access devices for every building and room on the school grounds, not just the exterior door.
• Requires schools to adopt policies and procedures to carry out the key box requirement.
• Grants civil immunity to schools, local governments, and their employees for damages from installing or using the key boxes, unless an employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith.

Public and private elementary and secondary schools in Georgia, local boards of education and other school governing bodies, local police departments and emergency management agencies that help choose key box locations, and school employees who would gain civil liability protection.

If funded, the bill would give first responders a standardized way to quickly enter school buildings during emergencies like an active shooter or fire, potentially speeding response times. Schools would take on a new installation and policy-writing task, though the mandate only takes effect once the state provides money for it.

• Adds new Code section 20-2-1187 to Georgia's school loitering and disruption law (O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 2, Article 27).
• Subsection (a) makes the key box requirement contingent on the General Assembly actually appropriating funds for it.
• Subsection (b) requires the box to meet Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037 and to be placed at a location chosen with local law enforcement and emergency management input, containing access devices for the entire campus.
• Subsection (c) requires schools to adopt implementing policies and procedures.
• Subsection (d) gives schools, local governments, and agencies full civil immunity for key box related damages, and gives their employees immunity unless they acted with gross negligence or bad faith.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-05Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)

• school safety
• emergency response
• education law
• local government liability