The Texas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs held its first interim hearing last week, focusing on the implementation of House Bill 33, a sweeping school safety measure enacted in response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
The May 28 hearing, chaired by state Rep. Cole Hefner, examined how state agencies, school districts and law enforcement organizations are preparing to carry out the provisions of the legislation, commonly known as the Uvalde Strong Act.
Authored by state Rep. Don McLaughlin during the 89th Legislative Session, HB 33 establishes statewide policies and procedures for responding to active shooter incidents at primary and secondary schools. The legislation emerged from lessons learned after the Robb Elementary tragedy, where 19 students and two teachers were killed.
A Texas House investigative report released after the shooting concluded that a lack of clear incident command contributed to failures in the emergency response. The report found that no one effectively assumed leadership of the operation, resulting in delays that may have affected rescue efforts while the gunman remained active inside the school.
HB 33 received unanimous support in the Texas House, passing in April 2025 with a 147-0 vote.
During the hearing, lawmakers heard testimony from education and public safety officials about the challenges and progress associated with implementing the law.
John Scott, chief of school safety and security at the Texas Education Agency, told lawmakers that the agency is working with schools to adopt standardized emergency response terminology and improve crisis communication practices. He said one area presenting difficulties has been training school personnel to serve as public information officers during emergencies, largely because of limited class availability and scheduling constraints.
Lawmakers also questioned witnesses about how schools are prioritizing the placement of security personnel. Scott explained that decisions regarding officer assignments remain under the authority of local school boards and districts. In many cases, available officers are concentrated at middle and high school campuses, though some districts also maintain security personnel at elementary schools.
Scott noted that all Texas school districts are now required to have silent panic alert systems that allow teachers and staff to quickly notify first responders and provide information about the location of an emergency.
Training costs and ongoing certification requirements emerged as another major topic of discussion. Witnesses emphasized that emergency preparedness requires continuous investment to ensure personnel remain up to date on procedures and best practices.
The committee also explored the role of mutual aid agreements, which allow multiple government agencies to coordinate resources during emergencies. McLaughlin highlighted the importance of these partnerships in rural communities, where local law enforcement agencies often have fewer personnel and resources than departments in major metropolitan areas. He suggested that while large cities generally have substantial emergency response capabilities, rural areas rely more heavily on regional cooperation.
Representatives from law enforcement organizations echoed concerns about resource allocation. Texas Police Chiefs Association Assistant Director Scott Rubin identified training and technology as two of the most important investments the state can make to improve emergency response. He emphasized that technology serves as a force multiplier by helping responders quickly identify where resources are needed, even though it cannot replace personnel on the ground.
The hearing also addressed the mental health needs of first responders, another key component of HB 33. Danny Rendon of Sharp Performance testified about the benefits of integrating cognitive performance coaching with traditional mental health resources for law enforcement officers.
Rendon pointed to data indicating that police officers experience high levels of stress, burnout and suicide risk. He said his organization focuses on proactive support strategies designed to improve resilience and performance before critical incidents occur. According to Rendon, coaches with backgrounds in law enforcement, emergency response and military special operations can help officers engage more effectively with mental health resources.
HB 33 requires the development of mental health support plans for first responders involved in critical incidents. Rendon argued that preventive approaches are often lacking in current systems, which frequently focus on intervention only after a traumatic event has already occurred.
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