The bill does not force local school boards to hire armed guards, but opens it up as an option for localities that want to pursue it.

McAuliffe, a Democrat who regularly opposes Republican efforts to allow more people to be armed in more places, explained his veto last year by saying the bill lacked provisions to ensure school security officers are properly trained.

Lingamfelter added more stringent requirements to the 2017 version, which requires armed guards to prove that they meet specific training and qualification standards, including receiving instruction in active shooter response. Local school boards would also have to check with the local police chief or sheriff before granting a security guard the ability to carry a gun.

McAuliffe’s office said the governor felt last year that the bill didn’t require the highest training standards, and the General Assembly “heard his concerns.”

“The governor reviews these bills carefully and even for bills that he’s vetoed in the past if the General Assembly makes changes to address his concerns he’s always open to signing them,” said McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy. “That’s what happened in this particular case.”