BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — College professors and staff at Florida’s public colleges and universities could soon be armed.
The Florida Legislature has approved a bill that would allow college faculty members to carry concealed weapons on campus.
The measure, Florida House Bill 757 (2026), would allow public colleges and universities to participate in the state’s school guardian program, which permits specially trained employees to serve as armed “guardians” on campus.
The passage of this bill comes nearly a year after a mass shooting on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee that occurred April 17, 2025.
A gunman killed two people and injured several others.
The bill that would allow college professors to be armed still needs Gov. DeSantis’ signature.
“We don’t comment on pending legislation that has not been signed into law as it would be too speculative,” said Joshua Glanzer, a spokesperson at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, in an email.
A spokesperson at Florida State University declined our request for an on-camera interview and said they did not wish to comment on the bill at this time until the Governor signs it.
A University of Florida spokesperson also said UF has no comment on the bill until it is signed by DeSantis.