ANALYSIS: Tennessee Gov. Signs Bill Adding $230 Million for School Safety Following Covenant

State Democrats still want gun control measures

Gun control advocates raise signs in the gallery of the Tennessee House chamber in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. George Walker IV/AP Photo

A bill adding a $230 million influx of funding for school safety at public and private schools across Tennessee was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, on May 10.

“Nothing is more important than Tennessee students and teachers returning home from school safely each day,” Lee said in a statement. “Every year since 2019, we’ve worked with the General Assembly to prioritize school safety, and this year, we’ve passed significant measures to fund an armed SRO for every public school, enhance mental health support and boost physical security at public and private schools across Tennessee.”

The enhanced school safety legislation (pdf), along with late budget amendments, will add a Homeland Security officer throughout the state to cover every county, provide funds for an SRO officer at every school in the state, allow districts to boost physical security, and provide additional mental health resources for Tennesseans.

Lee introduced legislation prior to the deadly shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville and added funds and stipulations after the tragedy where three adults and three nine-year-olds were killed at the Christian elementary school.

Governor’s Proposals Before Covenant

In his February address at the beginning of his second term, Lee spoke of previous actions to strengthen school security in his first term, along with lining out plans for the future.

“Since 2019, Tennessee has done a lot of work to strengthen school safety,” Lee said at the time. “We increased funding, boosted mental health programs, and established a grant to place more than 200 School Resource Officers across the state.”

Lee said this year’s safety focus was on enhancing physical security in classrooms and the proposal to add at least one Homeland Security Agent in each of the state’s 95 counties. He later clarified some counties would be covered by a regional agent not specifically based in the county but who focuses on it.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber of the Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 31, 2022. Mark Zaleski/AP Photo

“A few months ago, a student at a high school in West Tennessee noticed something suspicious,” Lee said in his February address. “The student reported their concern in the SafeTN app, bringing it to the attention of one of our Homeland Security agents in the region. The agent pursued the tip, and we have strong reason to believe that this prevented a real threat from becoming a real tragedy.”

Lee said a review of that incident showed their SafeTN app worked as long as an agent was available to respond.

Around 122 new Homeland Security agents will specialize in school safety and threat assessment initiatives to prevent events from happening.

After Covenant

“We’ve done a lot to make schools safer, but I don’t want to look up months from now and think—we should’ve done more,” the governor said. “I intend to make this a priority year after year.”

A few weeks after that speech, the Covenant tragedy occurred, prompting Lee to request additional funding for his earlier proposals along with additions.

“Following the tragic Covenant shooting, Gov. Lee worked with the General Assembly to enhance his legislation and increase funding in the Fiscal Year 23-24 budget to place an armed School Resource Officer (SRO) at every Tennessee public school, boost physical school security at public and private schools, and provide additional mental health resources for Tennesseans,” a Wednesday statement from his office said.

Physical security at schools is expected to be strengthened and modernized using a state school safety oversight structure to enhance accountability. This includes first responder preparedness and collaboration between school safety stakeholders.

The enhanced school safety legislation includes a multi-tiered accountability plan to make sure exterior doors are locked while school is in session; a requirement that private security guards receive active shooter training prior to being posted at a school; requiring every school district to establish threat assessment teams and annual safety plans.

Schools will be subject to penalties for repeat violations of the exterior locked door policy. They will also share annually with law enforcement their safety pans, floor plans, and security systems access.

An ambulance leaves The Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023. John Amis/AP Photo

The threat assessment team is to connect students to support services and behavioral health staff when appropriate. They were previously allowed but not a requirement.

The annual safety plan must include incident command and bus safety drills for school leaders and law enforcement, in addition to current requirements of having armed intruder drills.

Newly built public school facilities are now required to install classroom door locks and secure visitor entry vestibules during construction as well.

Lee applauded this year’s major influx of school safety funding alongside the Tennessee General Assembly.

Approximately $30 million is going toward the Homeland Security officers, while $140 million will go toward the SROs for every public school. Private schools will receive an input of $14 million for security upgrades, along with $40 million for public schools. An additional $8 million will go toward additional School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons across the state.

State Leaders React

“Governor Lee and my colleagues in the General Assembly have made great strides on school safety over the years,” said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally. “But more needed to be done, and we answered that call this session. Hardening security at our public and private schools is no longer just a priority; it is an imperative. The safety of our schools is of paramount importance, and I am grateful we were in the financial position to quickly allocate the funds for these improvements.”

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) said the “extraordinary” funding would be “noticeable” for all schools.

“Whether adding an SRO in every school, hardening security systems at facilities, and doubling the number of resources for students with mental health issues—our schools, staff, and teachers will now have more resources at their disposal to support the physical, mental, and emotional health of all Tennessee students,” Sexton said.

He added more work is to be done, explaining the legislature will continue speaking with other members and Tennesseans about “further improvements to school safety, additional resources to improve mental health outcomes, and the best ways forward to keep our children and schools safe.”

Tennessee State Troopers block the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. George Walker IV/AP Photo

Democrats in the legislature have criticized the measures passed for not addressing gun control measures. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support and mostly bipartisan support in the House. The “Tennessee Three,” who were expelled from the chamber for joining in gun control protests shortly after the Covenant tragedy, all voted against the bill, saying it didn’t go far enough.

“We don’t want gun battles at our schoolhouse door,” Rep. Gloria Johnson, D, said on the Floor as the bill was being debated.

Special Session

Lee announced on Monday official dates for calling the state legislature back to Nashville to debate public safety and potentially gun-related bills. Lee previously urged his Republican colleagues to pass an extreme risk protection order, but the bill was not taken up before the House and Senate adjourned for the year.

Lee’s call for an ERPO law, which proposed allowing law enforcement to take guns from citizens who are deemed a danger to themselves, was met with criticism from Second Amendment and gun rights groups, such as the Tennessee Firearms Association, which said Lee’s call was essentially a call for a “red flag law.”

His own party in the state House posted on Twitter in early April that red flag laws were a “nonstarter,” and many Republican members of the legislature said that such a law would “never” pass in Tennessee.

The special session of the legislature in order to discuss possible gun legislation and public safety begins August 21.