Florida Bill Exempts Church Security from Private Security Regulations

The Florida Legislature is close to reforming the requirements for voluntary armed security in churches. The bill exempts voluntary church security members who have concealed carry permits from the requirements of Florida statutes which regulate the members of private security services. Private investigative,, security, and repossession services are regulated under Chapter 493 of Florida Statutes. Section 6102 spells out who the provisions of the chapter shall not apply to.

The Florida Legislature is posed to pass Bill HB 95/ SB 52. The wording in both bills is nearly identical in the operative parts. The Senate bill, SB 52 has passed the Senate committees and the Senate unanimously. The near identical House bill, HB 95 has unanimously passed the House committees and is ready to be presented to the whole House for a vote. A few members of the committees were absent during committee votes.

The bill makes a relatively minor change in the regulation of security for churches. Unarmed church security was exempt from regulation. This bill exempts volunteer church security who have concealed carry permits from the regulations of Florida statutes. The previous paragraph 13 of Section 493.6102 will not be changed:

 (13) Any individual employed as a security officer by a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization having an established physical place of worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted or by a church cemetery to provide security on the property of the organization or cemetery, and who does not carry a firearm in the course of her or his duties.

The new paragraph will be paragraph 16 of Florida statutes 493.6102. From flhouse.gov:

 493.6102 Inapplicability of this chapter.—This chapter shall not apply to:

(16) Any person who on a voluntary basis provides armed security services on the premises of a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization having an established physical place of worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted, if:

(a) The person providing the armed security services holds a valid license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant s. 790.06.24

(b) The security services are provided exclusively on the premises of a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization, including any property owned or leased by the church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization for worship, education, or religious activities.

(c) The person providing the armed security services did not receive any compensation for such services. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “compensation” does not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred and related to the cost of training or the cost of equipment necessary for providing the security services.

The reform bill appears popular, without opposition. It is expected to pass and be signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and to become law as of  July 1, 2026. In 2021, Governor DeSantis signed HB 259, which allowed people with concealed carry permits to carry on church property unless the religious institution has a policy explicitly forbidding the carry of concealed firearms. The previous law restored the choice to religious institutions instead of preemptively forbidding the carry of concealed weapons on the grounds of churches, unless the administration of the religious institution specifically allowed it. Armed volunteers have served as church security since colonial days. During the colonial period, several colonies required members of the church to bring their weapons to church services. 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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