Security Services on Religious Premises

Education Firearms

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Grow ; Blanco ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Anderson ; Bankson ; Barnaby ; Benarroch ; Boyles ; Buchanan ; Fabricio ; Hinson ; López, J. ; Miller ; Nix ; Partington ; Plakon ; Plasencia ; Salzman ; Steele ; Yarkosky ; Yeager
Last action: 2026-03-11
Official status: House - Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 52
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Voluntary Armed Security at Religious Places

This bill allows certain people to provide armed security services for free at religious places without following some rules.

What This Bill Does

Exempts volunteers from specific requirements when they offer armed security at churches or similar religious organizations.
Requires these volunteers to have a valid license to carry concealed weapons or firearms.
Limits the volunteer's service to the premises of the religious organization, including owned and leased property for worship, education, or activities.
Allows reimbursement for reasonable expenses related to training or equipment but does not allow payment for services.

Who It Names or Affects

Volunteers providing armed security at churches or similar religious organizations
Religious organizations with established places of worship in Florida

Terms To Know

Compensation: Payment for services, but does not include reimbursement for expenses related to training or equipment.
Ecclesiastical: Relating to a church or religious organization

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies to volunteers who provide security services without receiving payment.
It does not cover professional security personnel hired by religious organizations.

Bill History

2026-03-11 House
• Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 52
2026-02-10 House
• Favorable by Judiciary Committee • Reported out of Judiciary Committee • Bill released to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar
2026-02-06 House
• Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
2026-02-05 House
• Favorable by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Now in Judiciary Committee
2026-02-03 House
• Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda
2026-01-28 House
• Favorable by Criminal Justice Subcommittee • Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee • Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
2026-01-26 House
• Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-10-14 House
• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee • Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Referred to Judiciary Committee • Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2025-10-07 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Security Services on Religious Premises; Exempts certain persons providing voluntary armed security services at churches or ecclesiastical or denominational organizations from specified requirements; provides requirements such persons must meet to qualify for exemption.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 95 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb95-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the security services on religious 2
premises; amending s. 493.6102, F.S.; exempting 3
certain persons providing voluntary armed security 4
services at churches or ecclesiastical or 5
denominational organizations from specified 6
requirements; providing requirements such persons must 7
meet to qualify for the exemption; providing an 8
effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Subsection (16) is added to section 493.6102, 13
Florida Statutes, to read: 14
493.6102 Inapplicability of this chapter.—This chapter 15
shall not apply to: 16
(16) Any person who on a voluntary basis provides armed 17
security services on the premises of a church or ecclesiastical 18
or denominational organization having an established physical 19
place of worship in this state at which nonprofit religious 20
services and activities are regularly conducted, if: 21
(a) The person providing the armed security services holds 22
a valid license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued 23
pursuant s. 790.06. 24
(b) The security services are provided exclusively on the 25

HB 95 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb95-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

premises of a church or ecclesiastical or denominational 26
organization, including any property owned or leased by the 27
church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization for 28
worship, education, or religious activities. 29
(c) The person providing the armed security services did 30
not receive any compensation for such services. For purposes of 31
this paragraph, the term "compensation" does not include 32
reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred and 33
related to the cost of training or the cost of equipment 34
necessary for providing the security services. 35
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 36