Georgia lawmakers have taken new steps to improve school safety with the passage of House Bill 268, which introduces several measures aimed at protecting students and staff in public schools across the state.
Sen. Frank Ginn, who represents Georgia’s 47th Senate District, described his personal motivation for supporting the legislation. “When we send our children to school each morning, we expect them to receive a quality education and return home safely every day. As a father, I share that sentiment, and as a public servant, I am fully dedicated to protecting our students,” he said.
Ginn recounted his visit to Uvalde, Texas after the 2022 school shooting there. He met with parents, educators, emergency personnel and local leaders in Uvalde and observed firsthand the impact of delayed emergency response during a crisis. “What I witnessed in Uvalde was heartbreaking. The pain on the faces of the families and the frustration of the first responders revealed the tragic consequences of a system that failed many when it mattered most,” Ginn stated.
He also noted that similar violence struck within his own district at Apalachee High School.
In response to these incidents, Ginn co-sponsored Senate Bill 17 during the 2025 legislative session. The bill’s provisions were ultimately included in HB 268 and signed into law this year. Among its key features is a requirement for all Georgia public schools to implement mobile panic alert systems that enable staff to quickly notify local and state emergency responders during crises. According to Ginn: “In Uvalde, delayed communication cost lives. With this system, we give our school personnel and students a tool that eliminates confusion, reduces response time, and ensures law enforcement arrives prepared and informed.”
The law also mandates that schools provide digital floor plans to law enforcement agencies so officers can navigate buildings more efficiently during emergencies. “These detailed, room-by-room maps enable officers to navigate school buildings immediately upon arrival. They will no longer have to guess where a classroom is located or lose precious time understanding a building’s layout,” Ginn explained.
HB 268 addresses broader student needs by allowing districts to hire trained professionals who mentor students facing hardships and expand mental health services statewide. These resources include suicide prevention programs, behavioral health tools and anonymous threat reporting systems designed for early intervention.
“School districts will now be able to hire trained professionals who serve as mentors and provide support for students facing hardships,” said Ginn. “Expanded mental health services are critical for schools across Georgia… These resources include suicide prevention programming, behavioral health tools and access to anonymous threat reporting systems.”
The legislation further strengthens accountability by increasing penalties for minors bringing firearms onto school grounds while maintaining opportunities for rehabilitation through updates in juvenile code procedures.
“Minors who bring weapons onto school grounds will face more substantial penalties… Our updated juvenile code ensures Georgia’s courts have the authority to act swiftly and appropriately whenever the safety of our schools is threatened,” he said.
Ginn emphasized ongoing collaboration among parents, teachers, law enforcement officers and city leaders throughout communities such as Danielsville, Jefferson, Winder, Braselton and Athens on issues related to school security.
He concluded: “HB 268 is not the end of our work but a foundation that we… will build on to secure a brighter future for our children… I will keep working daily to ensure our schools are not just centers of learning but places where safety and community come first.”
Senator Frank Ginn serves Madison County as well as parts of Barrow, Clarke and Jackson counties in Georgia’s legislature.
