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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Some Tennessee schools are now one step closer to allowing guns on campus.

Two bills passed the House Education Administration and Planning committee on Wednesday.

The first, WTVF reported, targeted smaller school districts like Wayne and Pickett County who are unable to afford resource officers.

In these counties, the bill proposes training teacher volunteers on how to use a weapon in the event of an emergency.

Despite passing 7 to 5, there were some concerns from lawmakers about liability, classroom distractions and training.

WREG has learned most resource officers must undergo more than 500 hours of training, but the bill would only require the volunteers to have 40.

That bill was sent to the Finance Ways and Means committee.

The second bill focused on public universities and, if passed, would allow employees to carry concealed weapons.

That bill was passed as well and sent on to the Finance Ways and Means committee.

A similar bill passed last week added an amendment to allow private universities to opt-out of the bill if they want to, however the legislature failed to pass the same amendment for public universities.

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