WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced the Uniform School Mapping Act to ensure that first responders have fast, reliable access to critical information during school emergencies. By requiring federal school mapping funds to follow a set of national standards, this legislation eliminates dangerous inconsistencies to save lives.

“In an emergency, every second counts,” said Rep. Brian Mast. “If our children are in danger, first responders shouldn’t be forced to rely on outdated or confusing information. This bill is a straightforward, common-sense solution that ensures every taxpayer-funded school map is clear, accurate, and up to date.”

“Public safety and effective emergency response rely on up-to-date maps. Often, maps produced with federal funds are outdated and lack key details first responders need in an emergency. As a veteran, I know how crucial the full picture is in a crisis situation. That’s why I’m proud to serve as an original cosponsor of Rep. Mast’s Uniform Public Safety Emergency Response Mapping Act. This legislation meets the needs of first responders nationwide while ensuring compatibility with existing platforms used by local, state, and federal public safety agencies. It’s a win for our first responders,” said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green.

When first responders reach a school in a crisis, they rely on emergency response maps to effectively mitigate the situation. These maps are critical for first responders’ ability to navigate school grounds, so they must be accurate and easily understandable. The bill addresses some common flaws among existing maps: incorrect floor plans, outdated facility footprints, inaccessible formats, and inconsistent orientations. When every second is valuable, forcing first responders to navigate inadequate resources could be detrimental to school safety. Standardized elements like storing maps in accessible digital formats, maintaining north-oriented consistency, ensuring grid references in surroundings, and requiring annual verification are all addressed in the bill without spending any additional taxpayer dollars. 

Fifteen states have already adopted legislation for response map production, and the Uniform School Mapping Act sets clear guidelines at the federal level to ensure all school maps produced with taxpayer funding are consistent, coordinated, and compatible with existing public safety systems.