MSD Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1335
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T13:27:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Measures for Safer School Districts Act (MSD Act) aims to improve safety in public elementary and secondary schools by mandating emergency response plans with parental notifications and requiring reinforced doors to enhance physical security. It ties these measures to federal funding eligibility and provides resources for implementation.
Key Provisions
- Emergency Response and Parental Notification (Section 2):
- Local educational agencies (LEAs, such as school districts) receiving federal education funds must create and enforce emergency procedures covering all students, teachers, and staff in public schools.
- Procedures require timely alerts to parents and guardians about serious incidents occurring on school grounds, during bus rides, or at school events.
- Plans must be developed with input from local police, fire, and other safety agencies; use standard alarm signals for different emergencies; and specify the main responding agency and school staff responsible for calling them.
- "Covered threats and emergencies" include weapons use with intent to harm, active shooters or hostage situations, bomb threats, murders, sexual assaults (especially involving school staff and students), trespassing, fires, severe weather (like hurricanes or tornadoes), natural disasters, exposure to harmful man-made substances, and other locally identified risks.
- Reinforced Doors in Schools (Section 3):
- Within 90 days of enactment, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director must form an advisory committee, chaired by CISA and including the Secretary of Education, law enforcement, school safety experts, parents, teachers, ballistic protection specialists, architects, and others.
- The committee will review and recommend standards for installing or upgrading interior and exterior school doors to make them more secure (e.g., using reinforced materials or locks).
- Key considerations include door technology specs, performance tests for durability, manufacturing and training processes, expected lifespan, and ensuring doors aid protection without blocking police access or safe evacuations.
- CISA must submit a report to Congress within one year of the committee's formation.
- Within six months of the report, CISA issues a final rule mandating these door upgrades in federally funded schools.
- Funding is provided through the Homeland Security Grant Program, with $100 million authorized annually starting in the year the rule is issued and for the next nine years, solely for door-related costs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by adding a new Part H, introducing mandatory emergency procedures and notifications as a condition for federal funding—previously, such plans were encouraged but not required nationwide.
- Establishes a new federal rulemaking process through CISA for school door security standards, which did not exist before; this integrates school safety into homeland security frameworks without prior specific mandates.
- Authorizes dedicated grant funding under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, expanding its use to include school infrastructure upgrades.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: LEAs must comply to keep federal education funds, increasing administrative workload for planning and notifications. CISA and the Department of Homeland Security gain responsibilities for rulemaking and grant oversight, potentially straining resources initially but providing long-term funding.
- On Citizens: Parents and guardians will receive faster alerts about school dangers, improving family awareness and response. Students and staff benefit from standardized safety protocols and stronger doors, potentially reducing injury risks in crises, though implementation costs could indirectly affect local taxes or school budgets.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic school safety.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local Educational Agencies and Schools: Primary implementers, responsible for procedures, notifications, and door upgrades; compliance is tied to federal funding.
- Parents and Guardians: Gain rights to timely emergency alerts.
- Students, Teachers, and Staff: Covered by enhanced safety measures.
- Public Safety Agencies: Involved in plan development and as primary responders.
- Federal Agencies: CISA leads door rulemaking; Department of Education enforces funding conditions; Homeland Security manages grants.
- Manufacturers and Experts: Ballistic tech and construction firms may see new business from door standards; advisory committee members (e.g., law enforcement, architects) influence policy.
- School Safety Advocates: Including parents and resource officers, who provide input and benefit from safer environments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ties safety mandates to federal funding, which could lead to lawsuits if seen as overreach into state/local school control (a federalism issue). The rulemaking process ensures expert input and congressional oversight, promoting evidence-based standards.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the government's role in promoting public welfare and education (under the Spending Clause), but must balance with privacy concerns in notifications (e.g., avoiding unnecessary family distress) and free movement rights during evacuations.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) suggests broad appeal amid school shooting concerns; authorizes significant funding ($1 billion over 10 years), which may spark debates on budget priorities versus gun control alternatives. No explicit partisan bias in the text, focusing on procedural enhancements rather than root causes like firearms access.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-13: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Measures for Safer School Districts Act — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (7 pages)