Campus Safety Legislation by State
A state-by-state directory of campus-safety laws across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, layered on top of the federal Jeanne Clery Act, signed into law in November 1990. According to the U.S. Department of Education, every one of the 5,673 Title IV institutions tracked here must publish an Annual Security Report under that federal floor, but states differ significantly in what they require above it, from campus crime reporting and sexual assault prevention to emergency preparedness and timely-warning mandates. See our methodology for how each state's coverage tier is classified.
| State | Status |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Minimal |
| Alabama | Partial |
| Arkansas | Partial |
| Arizona | Partial |
| California | Comprehensive |
| Colorado | Comprehensive |
| Connecticut | Comprehensive |
| District of Columbia | Comprehensive |
| Delaware | Minimal |
| Florida | Comprehensive |
| Georgia | Partial |
| Hawaii | Minimal |
| Iowa | Partial |
| Idaho | Minimal |
| Illinois | Comprehensive |
| Indiana | Partial |
| Kansas | Minimal |
| Kentucky | Partial |
| Louisiana | Comprehensive |
| Massachusetts | Comprehensive |
| Maryland | Comprehensive |
| Maine | Minimal |
| Michigan | Partial |
| Minnesota | Comprehensive |
| Missouri | Partial |
| Mississippi | Minimal |
| Montana | Minimal |
| North Carolina | Partial |
| North Dakota | Minimal |
| Nebraska | Minimal |
| New Hampshire | Minimal |
| New Jersey | Comprehensive |
| New Mexico | Minimal |
| Nevada | Partial |
| New York | Comprehensive |
| Ohio | Partial |
| Oklahoma | Partial |
| Oregon | Comprehensive |
| Pennsylvania | Partial |
| Rhode Island | Partial |
| South Carolina | Minimal |
| South Dakota | Minimal |
| Tennessee | Partial |
| Texas | Comprehensive |
| Utah | Partial |
| Virginia | Comprehensive |
| Vermont | Partial |
| Washington | Comprehensive |
| Wisconsin | Partial |
| West Virginia | Minimal |
| Wyoming | Minimal |
Source: NCSL Campus Safety legislation tracker, state legislature records NCSL Campus Safety legislation tracker, state legislature records Status reflects dedicated campus safety legislation beyond federal Clery Act requirements
About Campus Safety Legislation
The Clery Act is the federal baseline, all institutions receiving federal financial aid must report campus crime statistics and maintain security policies. However, many states have enacted their own campus safety laws that go beyond federal requirements.
Comprehensive states have dedicated campus safety legislation with specific requirements for threat assessment teams, campus climate surveys, sexual assault prevention programs, and coordination with local law enforcement.
Partial states address campus safety through broader higher education or public safety legislation, typically focusing on specific issues like hazing, sexual assault policies, or emergency notifications.
Minimal states rely primarily on the federal Clery Act with limited state-specific provisions. This does not necessarily mean campuses in these states are less safe, institutions may maintain robust safety programs voluntarily.