Georgia lawmakers are considering a new school safety bill that would require all public schools to install weapons detection systems at main entry points. Georgia House Bill 1023, sponsored by House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, aims to strengthen preventive security measures amid growing concerns about school violence.
If passed, this would be a significant policy shift, with Georgia joining states that are taking a more uniform approach to weapons detection in K-12 schools.
What House Bill 1023 Would Mean For Schools
Under Georgia House Bill 1023, every public school would have to have at least one weapons detection system at (but not restricted to) primary entrances where students enter the school building. Doors that are locked, alarmed, or not intended for regular student use would be exempt from the requirement.
The bill doesn’t specify a particular type of technology (concealed, visual, or audible), so districts can choose solutions that fit their campus layout, student volume, and operational needs. This gives school systems room to adopt modern weapons detection technologies that can detect firearms and other dangerous items without disrupting daily school routines.
Supporters of the bill say early detection at entry points can stop weapons before they ever get to classrooms or hallways, reducing the overall risk of violence on campus.
Why the Proposal Is Getting Attention
The proposal comes amid heightened concern about school safety nationwide and renewed calls from parents, educators, and lawmakers for proactive security strategies. Recent school violence incidents in Georgia and across the country have intensified the conversation about how to keep students and staff safe without making schools feel like unwelcoming, fortress-like environments.
Advocates talk about how weapons detection systems are already being used in trusted spaces, like courthouses, government buildings, and event venues. Similar safeguards in schools would give families more confidence and peace of mind.
Some Georgia school districts are already piloting or implementing weapons detection technology, showing there’s growing interest in solutions that balance safety with efficiency.
What’s Next
House Bill 1023 has passed through an education subcommittee and will get further consideration by the full House Education Committee. Lawmakers will continue to hash out the bill’s scope, funding, and practical impact as it moves through the legislative process.
As this conversation unfolds, the bill highlights a nationwide shift toward prevention-focused school safety strategies and the ongoing challenge of balancing security, cost, and the everyday school experience in an effort to keep students safe.
How Schools Can Choose the Best Weapons Detection System for Them
There are a variety of weapons detection tools for schools to choose from, including concealed (metal detectors and weapons scanners), visual (AI gun detection technologies), and audible (gunshot detection systems). Each presents different strengths and challenges, which are broken down here.
When looking for the best weapons detection for their situation, campuses can compare solutions based on:
- Student flow and speed at peak entry times (arrival, events, transitions)
- Coverage across entry points without adding staffing burden
- Impact on school climate (visible screening vs. background detection)
- Privacy and data handling (especially biometric collection/retention policies)
- Implementation timelines and cost (including hardware, staffing, and ongoing operations)
School security is not one-size-fits-all, and each of these things is important to consider.
An Option That Checks All the Boxes
Because Georgia House Bill 1023 allows districts to choose the technology that best fits their campuses, some schools may look for options that strengthen prevention without creating bottlenecks at entry points or changing the day-to-day school experience.
Omnilert’s Visual AI Gun Detection helps schools add an additional layer of awareness by monitoring existing security camera feeds in the background and alerting staff when a firearm is detected. In K-12 environments, this means that:
- There is no biometric collection (Omnilert does not collect or use biometric data)
- The system is non-intrusive and designed to minimize disruption to the school climate
- Existing cameras can be used to reduce the need for additional hardware and operational complexity.
- Detections are verified by humans first, before any action is taken, to reduce false positives.
If your district is evaluating weapons detection approaches in response to Georgia House Bill 1023, Omnilert can be part of that conversation. To learn more about what we offer, click here.
