Tennessee AI Weapons Detection in Schools Grant Pilot (SB 814 / HB 933)

Summary

Tennessee SB 814 / HB 933 creates a three-year competitive grant pilot program designed to fund 100% of the upfront and operating costs of new AI weapons detection systems in eligible Tennessee public school districts. Unlike Tennessee’s 2023 Alyssa’s Law (which addressed silent panic alarms in schools), this 2025 legislation directly funds AI computer-vision weapons detection technology — specifically the kind of systems that automatically identify visible firearms on existing security camera feeds before staff or students recognize the threat.

The program is administered through the Tennessee Department of Education and the Office of School Safety. It operates as a pilot, with the legislature evaluating outcomes during the three-year window before deciding whether to broaden eligibility statewide.

Notably, one of the program’s eligibility criteria — a documented loss of life on campus due to gun violence during the 2024-25 school year — means that, as of program launch, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is the only district that meets the threshold and may access initial grant funding. MNPS has been deploying AI weapons detection technology across its high schools and is expanding into middle schools on a phased schedule.

Key Requirements / Program Features

• Three-Year Pilot Window: Grant funding is available for three school years, with legislative review at the end of the pilot.
• 100% Cost Coverage: Eligible districts can receive grants covering the full cost of new AI weapons detection systems, including software licensing, integration, and operating costs.
• Eligibility Criteria: Districts must meet specific safety-incident criteria, including a documented loss of life on campus due to gun violence during the 2024-25 school year. As of the law’s effective date, MNPS is the only district meeting this criterion.
• Use of Funds: Grants fund AI computer-vision weapons detection systems that operate on existing camera infrastructure and identify visible firearms in real time.
• Reporting: Participating districts must report performance data, deployment metrics, and incident response outcomes to the Department of Education.

Affected Entities

Tennessee public school districts that meet the program’s eligibility criteria. The pilot is structured to demonstrate proof of concept before potential statewide expansion.

Companion Legislation & Context

Tennessee enacted Alyssa’s Law in 2023 to require silent panic alarm systems in schools, and the state has expanded its School Resource Officer (SRO) requirements over the past several sessions. SB 814 / HB 933 is the first Tennessee statute to directly fund AI computer-vision weapons detection as a discrete school-safety technology category, distinct from the panic-alert mandate.