EDITOR’S NOTE (May 5, 2026): This article has been corrected. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that participating churches must submit a written security plan to the local sheriff’s office for approval, and identified Senator Joe Gruters as the bill sponsor. The enrolled bill signed by Governor DeSantis on April 24, 2026 contains no sheriff’s office approval requirement. The bill was sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz. We thank a reader for flagging the errors and for taking the time to verify the facts directly with Senator Gaetz’s office.
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 Don Gaetz, 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 amends section 493.6102 of Florida Statutes by adding subsection (16), creating an exemption from Chapter 493’s licensure requirements for unpaid volunteers who provide armed security services at 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 unpaid volunteers to provide armed security on the premises of a church, mosque, synagogue, or other place of worship without holding those professional licenses, provided three conditions are met.
According to the enrolled bill text, the volunteer must hold a valid Florida concealed weapon or firearm license issued under s. 790.06. The security services must be provided exclusively on the premises of the church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization, including any property owned or leased by the organization for worship, education, or religious activities. The volunteer must not receive any compensation for the services.
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.
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 without first having to obtain a Class D or Class G commercial security license that was never designed for unpaid volunteers in the first place.
The structure of the law also addresses common questions about armed church security. The concealed weapon license requirement ensures every volunteer has already passed a background check and met state training and competency requirements for lawful carry. 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, 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 licensing 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 the Senate 39-0 and the House 111-1. 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
Under the new exemption, the operational requirements are straightforward. The volunteer must hold a valid Florida concealed weapon or firearm license under s. 790.06. The volunteer must be unpaid for the security services. The services must be provided exclusively on the premises of the church or denominational organization, including property the organization owns or leases for worship, education, or religious activities.
The statute does not require a written security plan submitted to or approved by the sheriff’s office. It does not require the church to register volunteers with any state agency. The bill simply removes Chapter 493’s private security industry licensing requirements from the picture for unpaid volunteers meeting the criteria above.
Churches are still wise to establish internal policies, written protocols, and ongoing training. Those are best practices rather than statutory requirements. 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, churches that want to establish formal teams will be working through their own internal preparations.
I will continue tracking the rollout of the law as the July effective date approaches.
The full text of CS/SB 52 is available on the Florida Senate website at flsenate.gov.
