Florida Governor Signs Bill Allowing Armed Volunteer Security Teams at Places of Worship Into Law

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TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida’s bill allowing armed volunteers to provide security at places of worship is now state law. Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/SB 52, the Security Services at Places of Worship Act, on April 24, 2026, where it was filed as Chapter 2026-46 in the Laws of Florida. The new law takes effect July 1, 2026.

I previously reported on the bill’s passage through both chambers of the Florida Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support before it was sent to the governor’s desk. Filed by Senator Joe Gruters with Senator Rosalind Osgood as co-introducer, the legislation closes a long-standing legal gap that had prevented Florida churches from organizing armed volunteer security teams without first navigating a professional security guard licensure framework that was never designed for unpaid congregants.

What the New Law Does

The law creates an exemption from licensure requirements for certain volunteers who provide armed security services for places of worship. Before SB 52, Florida law required anyone performing security services to hold a Class D security license, and anyone performing armed security services to hold a Class G statewide firearm license. Those licenses involve formal training hours, fingerprinting, fees, and renewals tied to commercial security work.

The exemption created by SB 52 allows places of worship to designate volunteer security team members who do not need those professional licenses. Those volunteers must still meet several specific requirements.

According to the law, volunteers serving on a place of worship’s security team must hold a valid Florida concealed weapon or firearm license, pass a background check, and operate under a formal security plan approved by the local sheriff’s office.

The law also leaves the decision entirely in the hands of each individual place of worship. Every congregation can decide for itself whether organizing a safety team is appropriate.

The View From Inside the Sanctuary

WINK News spoke with leaders at a Fort Myers church about how the new framework will work in practice. Eddie Hardin, who helps lead worship at the church, told WINK that protection is part of the mission.

“I do believe that even in a place of worship, the parishioners have the ability to be protected too,” Hardin said.

He added that times have changed and churches have had to adapt, saying it has become necessary so that people can feel comfortable in their place of worship without having to worry about their lives.

James Howard with Trinity Security Allies, an organization that trains church security teams nationwide, told WINK the law fills a real gap.

“It gives church volunteers the right to kind of call themselves security teams without having to go through the training necessary to be a security guard,” Howard said.

But Howard also emphasized that the licensure exemption does not change a volunteer’s legal responsibilities under Florida’s use of force laws.

“We have to follow the state law of use of force, and that’s where we work with that, because we have the right to protect us or other people, which is always what we’ve been doing,” Howard said.

Hardin acknowledged that the presence of firearms in a sanctuary makes some people uncomfortable. He said he understands that reaction, but the goal is making sure everyone is protected.

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Why This Matters

The Second Amendment is a fundamental civil right, and the right of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and the people in their care does not stop at the door of a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple. Faith communities in the United States have unfortunately become high-profile targets of violence, and waiting for first responders to arrive is not a serious safety plan when a determined attacker is already inside the building.

Florida’s new law recognizes a practical reality. Most churches do not have the budget to hire full-time licensed security guards. What they often do have is a cadre of trained, license-holding congregants who already carry concealed in their daily lives. SB 52 lets those congregants serve their congregations openly and lawfully, organized under a written security plan reviewed by their local sheriff.

The structure of the law also addresses the most common objections to armed church security. The concealed weapon license requirement ensures every team member has already passed a background check and met state training and competency requirements for lawful carry. The sheriff’s office approval requirement creates a layer of accountability and a paper trail. The voluntary nature of the program leaves authority where it belongs, with the leadership of each individual place of worship.

Use of Force Still Applies

The licensure exemption is not a license to act as a private police force. Volunteers exercising the SB 52 exemption are still bound by the same Florida use of force laws that apply to every other armed citizen.

That means the legal standard for the use of deadly force remains an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to oneself or another. It means the legal standard for non-deadly force remains the reasonable belief that such force is necessary to prevent imminent unlawful force. The volunteer is, in legal terms, just a citizen with a concealed carry license inside a building they have permission to be in.

This is part of why James Howard’s training framework matters. Knowing the law of self-defense, knowing what de-escalation actually looks like, knowing when to draw and when to keep the firearm holstered, and knowing how to work as part of a team rather than as a solo actor are all skills that go beyond the threshold required for a Florida concealed carry license. Churches taking advantage of SB 52 are well advised to seek out training resources designed specifically for church security teams.

The Pro-2A Context

Florida has been one of the more protective states for lawful gun owners in recent years, with permitless carry taking effect in 2023 and a series of subsequent reforms expanding lawful carry options. SB 52 fits squarely in that pattern. It removes a state-imposed barrier that prevented faith communities from doing what every other group of friends, family members, or organizational members can do under Florida law, which is provide for their own physical safety.

The bipartisan support for SB 52 is also worth noting. The bill cleared both chambers with broad backing across party lines. That kind of consensus is rare on firearms-related legislation in any state, and it suggests that Florida lawmakers across the political spectrum recognized the practical case for letting churches choose their own security model.

What Churches Need to Do

Churches considering organizing a volunteer security team under the new law will need to take a few specific steps. First, identify volunteers who hold valid Florida concealed weapon or firearm licenses and are willing to serve. Second, develop a written security plan that addresses how the team will operate, including roles, communication, response protocols, and use of force boundaries. Third, submit that plan to the local sheriff’s office for approval.

Beyond the legal requirements, churches should strongly consider investing in training specifically designed for faith-based security teams. Organizations like Trinity Security Allies and similar national groups offer curriculum that goes well beyond basic concealed carry, covering topics such as crowd management, medical response, threat assessment, and team tactics in a sanctuary environment.

What Comes Next

The new exemption takes effect on July 1, 2026. Between now and then, sheriff’s offices across Florida will be developing internal processes for reviewing and approving congregation security plans, and churches that want to establish formal teams will be working through their own internal preparations.