Bill
HR 6809
Expands federal school safety efforts by creating a comprehensive Clearinghouse with education, training, panic-alarms tech, and a National School Safety Data Center to reduce emer
Session: 119th Congress | Introduced December 17, 2025
Jurisdiction: United States Federal legislation (Homeland Security Act of 2002 amendments)
Purpose
- The bill aims to reduce losses of life from school emergencies (including school shootings) by expanding the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-Based Practices and creating a comprehensive framework for education, training, data collection, and emergency response planning.
Key Provisions and Changes
1) Expansion of the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-Based Practices (Section 2)
- Adds new subsection (f) focused on Public Education Efforts:
- The Clearinghouse may undertake public education efforts about tools and processes to avoid/address school emergencies (prevention and response), including for prevention of shootings.
- Develops programs to provide specialized information to states and school administrators to identify, address, and prevent school emergencies.
- Supports research, testing, and experimentation to identify effective tools and processes.
- adds subsection (g) on Training and Technical Assistance:
- Provides training on evidence-based practices and recommendations.
- Includes individualized consulting with schools to tailor implementation.
- adds subsection (h) on Subject Matter Experts:
- Requires hiring personnel/contractors with expertise in school safety and administration.
- adds subsection (i) on Panic Alarm Technology:
- Establishes a technology development program for panic alarms to aid first responders and schools (visual/aural equipment, wearables, etc.).
- Prohibits manufacturing/sale of equipment by the Secretary except as necessary for development/testing.
- Allows operations research and cost-effectiveness studies.
- Enables cost-benefit evaluation and support for evaluating programs.
- adds subsection (j) on Projects:
- Funds development, testing, and demonstration projects to encourage adoption of new safety tech and methods.
- adds subsection (k) on Rural Assistance:
- Encourages research into improving school emergency prevention and response in rural/remote areas.
- adds subsection (l) on Guidance:
- Aligns Clearinghouse guidance with other federal guidance (Education, Health and Human Services) and with state/local/private sector developments.
2) National School Safety Data Center (Data Center) and Related Reporting (Section 2, continued)
- Subsection (m) creates an integrated National School Safety Data Center via SchoolSafety.gov within one year of enactment.
- Data Center collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on prevention/occurrence/control of school emergencies, results of safety efforts, and hardening resources.
- Data collection topics include causes/frequency of incidents, injuries/deaths, property losses, staff hazards, school safety plans, and state laws/methods.
- Establishes standardized data reporting methods and supports states/local agencies in reporting.
- Data to be disseminated broadly to federal, state, local governments and private entities; published on SchoolSafety.gov.
- Subsection (n) Annual Reporting:
- Beginning June 30 of the year after enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary must report on Clearinghouse activities, including:
- Human/economic losses from shootings, research progress, comparisons of safety plan implementations, master-plan effectiveness, and ongoing problem areas.
- Public education efforts and requests for additional legislation as needed.
3) Directors and Federal Coordination (Section 2, continued)
- Establishes a Director of the Clearinghouse within 120 days of enactment.
- Requires coordination with the United States Secret Service (USSS) to align practices with threat assessment guidance.
- Expands the External Advisory Board composition to include multiple representatives.
4) Emergency Response Maps Funding and Strategy (Section 3)
- Prohibits use of federal funds for fiscal year 2026 and onward to procure an emergency response map that doesn’t meet specified requirements.
- Map requirements:
- Digital/geospatial format accessible on devices; real-time updates; interoperable with response systems.
- Standardized symbology per National Association of Public Safety GIS; data ownership rights; secured data sharing; not stored outside the U.S.; floor-level visualization for sites; annual site verification by the local educational agency.
- Post-purchase, map data available to the map owner and covered public safety agencies without restriction.
- Strategy for Federal procurement and distribution of maps for critical federal sites due within 1 year; briefing to Congress within 180 days of strategy submission.
5) Master Plans (Section 4)
- Requires the Secretary to report on the establishment and effectiveness of master plans for school shooting prevention and response starting four years after enactment and annually thereafter.
- Reports to cover: extent/quality of planning, jurisdiction characteristics, development/implementation approaches, costs/benefits, and recommendations.
6) Rulemaking Authority (Section 5)
- Clarifies that nothing in the Act grants the Clearinghouse rulemaking or regulatory authority.
7) Definitions (Section 6)
- Provides definitions for key terms: appropriate congressional committees, covered public safety agency, emergency response map, local educational agency, master plan, Secretary, site, and state.
Impact and Stakeholders
Timeline Highlights
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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