The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services.

The SECURE Act clarifies that campaign funds can be used for legitimate security needs such as alarms, video surveillance, access control systems and monitoring services when performed by licensed and qualified professionals. The legislation aims to close long-standing gaps in state laws and ensures that public servants can take reasonable steps to protect themselves and their families.

“The safety of those who serve in public office should never be left to chance,” said Kevin Stone, chairman of the board, ESA, and COO, Doyle Security. “With the SECURE Act, ESA is helping state legislatures provide a common-sense solution, one that empowers candidates and elected officials to protect themselves and their families through the use of licensed, professional security providers. This effort underscores our industry’s commitment to public safety and responsible stewardship.”

The model language includes several key provisions:

• Authorizes campaign spending on legitimate physical security and monitoring tied to public service.
• Requires licensed professionals to perform all installation and monitoring.
• Caps total spending at ten thousand dollars per campaign cycle.
• Maintains full transparency through itemized receipts and reporting.
• Prohibits firearms, ammunition and payments to family members.

“The security industry is deeply concerned with recent acts of political violence that threaten our country’s tradition of courteous discourse and public debate. The SECURE Act gives candidates for public office access to resources to better protect themselves, their families, their staff and their homes as they work to craft a better policy environment for their communities,” said Holly Borgmann, chair, ESA’s Government Relations Committee, and vice president of government affairs, ADT. “Providing candidates with a clear framework for how campaign funds can be used for legitimate security needs is both timely and necessary. As a leader in the security industry, ESA has a responsibility to advance thoughtful, effective policy that serves the public good.”

ESA developed the SECURE Act to provide consistency and accountability while highlighting the essential role of licensed, code-compliant security professionals.