ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

Senate: ED DPA 4-2-1-0 |Third Read 17-11-2-0-0

SB 1424: firearm safety instruction; public schools

Sponsor: Senator Rogers, LD 7

Committee on Education

Overview

Requires school districts and charter schools to provide annual, age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction to students in kindergarten programs and the 1st-12th grades. Details what the firearm safety and awareness instruction must include.

History

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) may provide training in the safe handling and use of bows or firearms and safe hunting practices in conjunction with schools that request such training. AZGFD may prescribe courses of study, approve instruction materials, certify instructors for training programs conducted by private organizations or public agencies and issue certificates of completion of the required course of study (A.R.S. § 15-713).

A school district or charter school may offer, as a one semester, one credit elective course, the Arizona Gun Safety Program course in firearm marksmanship. AZGFD, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and private firearms organizations must jointly develop the course of instruction for the Arizona Gun Safety Program course. At a minimum, the course must include: 1) instruction on firearm safety rules, basic firearm operation, firearm and marksmanship history, the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom, the constitutional roots of the right to keep and bear arms and the use of clay targets; 2) practice time at a shooting range; and 3) actual demonstration by a student of competence with a firearm by safely discharging the firearm at targets. A student who satisfactorily completes the course must receive a certificate of accomplishment (A.R.S. § 15-714.01).

Provisions

1. Requires, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each school district and charter school to provide annual, age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction to students in kindergarten programs and the 1st-12th grades.

2. Specifies the firearm safety awareness instruction must be:

a. limited to accident prevention and personal safety awareness; and

b. objective and not promote or discourage firearm ownership or advocate for or against any political position, public policy or legislative proposal.

3. Includes in the firearm safety awareness instruction:

a. instruction on the importance of safe firearm storage in homes and motor vehicles;

b. guidance on appropriate actions if a student encounters a firearm; and

c. age-appropriate discussion of risks associated with unsafe handling or unauthorized access to firearms.

4. Prohibits the firearm safety awareness instruction from including:

a. a live firearm;

b. ammunition or simulated ammunition;

c. a demonstration involving handling, operating, loading, unloading or firing a firearm;

d. instruction intended to train students in firearm use;

e. a moral judgement regarding lawful firearm possession; or

f. an inquiry, survey or request for information about whether a student, student's parent or member of the student's household owns, possesses or may possess a firearm or about firearms storage practices.

5. Allows a school district or charter school to provide the firearm safety awareness instruction through:

a. classroom-based instruction;

b. an assembly presentation;

c. video instruction or digital instructional materials approved by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE); or

d. instruction incorporated into existing health or safety curricula.

6. Instructs ADE to:

a. coordinate with DPS and AZGFD to develop firearm safety and awareness instructional materials; and

b. make the instructional materials available to school districts and charter schools.

7. Stipulates that firearm safety and awareness instructional materials must be:

a. developmentally appropriate for each grade band;

b. fact-based and neutral in presentation; and

c. designed to promote injury prevention and student safety.

8. Mandates each school district and charter school make all firearm safety awareness instruction learning materials available for parental review.

9. Asserts the firearm safety awareness instruction requirement does not:

a. regulate the possession, ownership, transfer or lawful use of firearms;

b. authorize any person to collect student information related to firearms; or

c. conflict with any Arizona firearm preemption law.

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g. Initials CH/IG SB 1424

h. 3/6/2026 Page 0 Education

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