alyssa's law
 

Alyssa’s Law

Alyssa’s Law is legislation to improve the response time of law enforcement during emergencies in public schools. It mandates that all public elementary and secondary school buildings be equipped with silent panic alarms that directly notify law enforcement.

 

 
 

Why is it Called Alyssa’s Law?

Alyssa Alhadeff was a 14-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland Florida. She was a victim on February 14, 2018, when a former student killed 17 people in a mass school shooting.

Alyssa’s mother, Lori Alhadeff founded a nonprofit organization, Make Our Schools Safe, which is aimed at providing safety features tailored to the specific needs of schools. With her help, the legislation was expedited in the wake of the tragedy and the final version of the law was named in Alyssa’s memory.

Alyssa Alhadeff
 

Alyssa’s Law Requirements

While the exact wording can vary from state to state, the foundation of Alyssa’s law requires all public elementary and secondary school buildings to be equipped with a silent panic alarm connected to local law enforcement.


 
 
 
 

Which States Have Adopted the Law?

 

Passed in the Following States:

  • New Jersey (February 6, 2019)

    Governor Murphy Signs “Alyssa’s Law” (A764)

  • Florida (June 30, 2020)

    Alert Systems in Public Schools (CS/CS/SB 70)

  • New York (June 23, 2022)

    Authorizes school boards to include information regarding the installation of a panic alarm system in any school in the district in the district-wide safety plan (Senate Bill S7132A)

  • Texas (May 5, 2023)

    A Bill to be Entitled an Act (HB204, HB669, SB838)

  • Tennessee (May 10, 2023)

    Education – As enacted, revises various provisions of present law relative to safety in elementary and secondary education and the Schools Against Violence in Education Act. (HB0322, SB0274)
     
     
     

Pending in the Following States:

  • Arizona

    Introduced Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st and 2nd Regular (HB2803, HB2683)

  • Georgia

    A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public school property and facilities, so as to require local education agencies to implement a mobile panic alert system. (HB3101)

  • Nebraska

    Provide for a statewide school panic button program (LB1156)

  • Oregon

    Relating to school safety; declaring an emergency. Requires schools to have wireless panic alert device in each classroom of each school building. (HB3101)

  • Virginia

    School boards; parental notification of certain incidents, Alyssa’s law-silent panic alarms. (HB1125)

Introduced at the Federal Level

Alyssa’s Law was introduced at the federal level in the following bills by Representative Roger Williams, District 25 TX (R-TX-25).
HR4606  |  HR3665  |  HR2717  |  HR3661

 

 
 
 
 

Alyssa’s Law Compliant Solutions


Panic Button Alyssa's Law

A single button that instantly dials multiple programmed numbers and plays a pre-recorded message to the recipients. The phone then goes into a broadcast-only mode, allowing the people on the receiving end to note the location of the call, and hear what is transpiring in the room. The Panic Button™ is available in two different options, the standard method is a designated button on the phone itself. The other option is an add-on USB button that connects to the phone.

Learn More