AUSTIN, Texas — Don McLaughlin, Uvalde’s former mayor and current state representative, saw his first bill get a committee hearing this legislative session on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The bill proposes a unified protocol for all law enforcement during active shooter situations

  • Critics say the bill is redundant, but proponents argue it’s necessary for clear, effective responses

  • The bill remains pending, reflecting ongoing debates over school safety and law enforcement training

“The shooter remained inside a classroom full of students. While nearly 400 officers from just about every law enforcement agency stood outside unsure how to act,” said McLaughlin.

The May 2022 tragedy that took place at Robb Elementary in Uvalde motivated McLaughlin to file a bill overhauling the state’s approach to school safety and active shooter situations.

“House Bill 33 codifies common active shooter response practices to establish a statewide emergency response protocol for all law enforcement and public information officers, eliminating any confusion across jurisdictions,” he said.

McLaughlin says a lack of communication between law enforcement agencies contributed to the 21 fatalities.  

The City of Austin’s chief medical officer completed a casualty analysis to determine if any of the deaths were preventable. He spoke in favor of the proposed policy that would allow someone to override an inadequate response.

“It starts with ‘I’m concerned about.’ Next step is ‘I’m uncomfortable with’ third step is ‘I believe this situation is unsafe.’ And if there is not adequate response, they’re mandated to take control,” said Mark Escott.

But law enforcement leaders are unsure the legislation will have the intended effect.

Chambers County sheriff and the legislative chairman for the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, Brian Hawthorne, describes McLaughlin’s proposal as redundant as it mandates an annual active shooter drill and school security reviews. During the regular legislative session in 2023 following the deadly event, a law was passed to create new school safety requirements.

Texas also already requires law enforcement to complete the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training.

“It is absolutely top-notch training, and it has done a wonders, wonders for police officers across the state on how to respond to an active attack event,” said Hawthorne.

He’s also concerned about how the additional training requirements would strain already limited resources.

“For every day that I pull somebody off of the road to train, that means it’s a spot that is not being filled, that the citizens are not getting the services. Or I’ve got to use overtime, and my budgets are limited to be able to then fill that position,” said Hawthorne.

Hawthorne hopes to see changes on the final version of the bill, but there is a shared goal.

“The safety of our children shouldn’t be a question of who’s in charge. It should be about how we all step up together,” said McLaughlin.

“We will always support anything that’s going to protect the lives of citizens and children,” said Hawthorne.

The bill was left pending by the House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs.