Senate bill doubles school safety funding
Senate Bill 260, which passed the Texas Senate on March 12, will double school safety funding by boosting per-student and per-campus allotments under the Foundation School Program.
The bill increases per-student funding from $10 to $28 and doubles the per-campus allocation from $15,000 to $30,000. It now moves to the House for consideration.
Local school officials commented on what this means for their districts.
“While I appreciate the intent behind SB 260 and acknowledge it’s a positive move, the funding increase, even doubled, remains insufficient. The allotment will not even cover the cost of a single School Resource Officer, let alone the district’s other annual safety-related expenses,” Superintendent Kevin Compton from North Zulch Independent School District said.
The legislation would provide more money for security personnel, emergency response training and safety infrastructure. By tying a portion of the funding to the basic allotment, districts with greater financial challenges would receive proportionate support.
“Senate Bill 260 would increase funding for armed security at each campus that became a requirement after the 2023 Legislative session. While helpful, this increase will not provide the necessary funds to cover the cost of fully certified, equipped, and trained police officers to work in schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Keith West from Madisonville Consolidated Independent School District.
The policy change is expected to increase state expenditures by approximately $500.1 million over the 2026-2027 biennium, according to fiscal notes attached to the bill.
The bill does not appropriate funds directly but would create the legal basis for future appropriations. A portion of the cost comes from reduced recapture payments, with an estimated $31.2 million decrease in 2026.
The Committee Substitute for SB 260 increases the per-student school safety allotment from the originally proposed $20 to $28, providing greater financial support than initially planned.
“Madisonville CISD has made this commitment and will continue to employ trained police officers in our district regardless of the outcome of this pending legislation. This is a key step in providing the safest, most secure environment possible for our students and staff,” Dr. West said.
Despite the increase, Superintendent Compton believes more community support will be needed.
“Even with the Senate’s support through this bill, we will still need to rely heavily on our community to bridge the gap in safety funding,” Compton said.
The bill has strong bipartisan support with 23 senators listed as sponsors, including 13 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Among the sponsors are Sen. Joan Huffman, Sen. Carol Alvarado, Sen. Brian Birdwell and Sen. Lois Kolkhorst.
The fiscal impact would continue in subsequent years, with estimated costs of $249.8 million in 2026, $250.3 million in 2027, and gradually decreasing to $210.8 million by 2030.
This legislation continues Texas Legislature efforts to strengthen security in schools across the state, while allowing districts room to direct funds based on their local priorities.
