An Update on Alyssa's Law: How a Mother's Promise Continues to Gain Ground

Here on our blog, we've been closely following the progress of Alyssa's Law, a critical piece of legislation born from tragedy and fueled by a mother's fierce determination. For readers who may be new to the topic, the law is named for Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. In the wake of her daughter's death, Lori Alhadeff founded the organization Make Our Schools Safe and began a tireless campaign for a simple, life-saving mandate: requiring silent panic alarms in schools to drastically shorten emergency response times.

When we last covered this topic, a handful of pioneering states had already answered Lori's call to action. Today, we're revisiting the subject to provide an essential update. The movement has not only continued but has accelerated, with several more states joining the cause and federal action gaining serious consideration. This is a story of relentless advocacy turning into real-world results, and it's time to look at the new map of where our schools stand.

What is Alyssa's Law? A Quick Refresher

At its core, Alyssa's Law is simple, smart, and life-saving. It mandates that all public elementary and secondary schools be equipped with silent panic alarms or mobile panic alert systems.

Think of it like a fire alarm, but for a violent threat. Instead of a loud siren, a teacher or administrator can press a button on a device or in a mobile app. This signal doesn't just call 911—it instantly and silently transmits a distress signal directly to local law enforcement, often including a map of the school with the precise location of the alert. This technology bypasses potential delays in dispatch and gives first responders the exact information they need to act decisively. In a situation where seconds save lives, Alyssa's Law aims to give those seconds back.

A State-by-State Update

Lori Alhadeff's advocacy has ignited a nationwide movement. What started as a single voice has now become a growing standard for school safety.

Here’s a look at the state-by-state progress:

• The Pioneers (2019-2020): New Jersey and Florida led the way, setting the original precedent.

• The Expansion (2021-2022): The movement gained significant ground as New York and Tennessee adopted the legislation.

• Recent Adoptions (2023-Present): The momentum is now stronger than ever. In just the last year, Texas, Arizona, and Utah have passed versions of Alyssa's Law, requiring panic alarm technology in their schools and marking a major expansion of this safety standard.

• On the Horizon: The progress doesn't stop there. Similar bills have been introduced and are being actively debated in numerous other states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Nebraska. At the federal level, a national version of Alyssa's Law has been introduced in Congress, which would create a grant program to help fund this technology for schools nationwide.

Why It Matters: More Than Just a Button

Alyssa's Law is not a standalone solution, but it serves as a critical layer in a multi-faceted approach to school safety. When combined with secure facilities, active shooter drills, and robust mental health resources, it creates a powerful ecosystem of prevention and response.

It provides teachers—the "first responders" in the classroom—with a tool to take immediate action. It gives law enforcement a direct line of communication, turning a chaotic scene into an actionable one. Most importantly, it honors the memory of Alyssa Alhadeff by turning a devastating loss into a legacy of protection for millions of children.

The continued passage of Alyssa's Law is a testament to the power of a mother’s promise and a clear signal that we can, and must, do more to protect our schools.

Resources and Next Steps

To learn more, track legislation state-by-state, or support the cause, visit the Make Our Schools Safe foundation website at https://makeourschoolssafe.org

The website also lists numerous resources for grants and guidance at: https://makeourschoolssafe.org/resources/

Learn how Ganz Security solutions can help provide safer school premises and campuses. Our integrations can help prevent, deter, and detect emergency events such as school shootings and violence, medical emergencies, and area breaches with a video management system fully integrated with NDAA-compliant smart cameras, IoT Smart Sensors (vaping, bullying, and gunshot detectors), license plate recognition, and AI integrations. Go to ganzsecurity.com/edu to learn more.

Sources:

1. https://makeourschoolssafe.org/alyssas-law/
2. https://alyssas-law.com/
3. https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562019/20190206b.shtml
4. https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1006/Sections/1006.07.html
5. https://www.greenlightsgrantinitiative.org/