Alyssa’s Law Compliance for Schools and Campuses
Which states have it, what each one requires, and how to prepare.
Alyssa’s Law is the name for a group of state laws about silent panic alerts in schools, plus a proposed federal bill. Thirteen states have enacted versions, and the requirements vary widely. This guide tracks them, with a source link for every claim.
Last reviewed October 2026. Source links on every claim.
Alyssa’s Law at a glance
Alyssa’s Law is not one law. It is the name used for state laws that require, encourage or allow schools to use silent panic alert systems that notify law enforcement. Make Our Schools Safe describes it as a wearable panic button linked directly to the 911 center. Stateline reports that while some of the laws require a particular device, others only allow schools to consider an emergency alert system.
have enacted versions (MOSS tracker, October 2026)
New Jersey signs the first one (NJ Governor)
the ALYSSA Act is pending in Congress
Illinois’ version takes effect (School Security Leadership)
Is Alyssa’s Law in your state?
Pick your state to see whether Alyssa’s Law has passed, what it requires and where to read the law. Data is from Make Our Schools Safe, School Security Leadership and each state legislature, last reviewed October 2026.
Southeast quick links
What is Alyssa’s Law?
It is named for Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, one of 17 people killed in the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (Stateline). Her parents founded Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit that advocates for the law. New Jersey passed the first version in 2019 (NJ Governor).
Specific technology required
New Jersey (a panic alarm linked to local law enforcement), Texas (silent panic alert technology in every classroom), Utah (wearable devices for lead teachers and staff in every classroom) and Oregon (a wireless panic alert device in each classroom).
A mobile system connected to public safety
Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia require a mobile panic alert system that connects with public safety or dispatch systems.
Consider, evaluate or collaborate
New York (consider silent panic alarms in safety plans), Illinois (consider a mobile panic alert system) and Washington (work with law enforcement and dispatch on technology-based response systems).
Allowed
Virginia (boards may provide wearable silent panic alarms) and West Virginia (public schools may implement wearable mobile panic alert systems).
The 13 states that have enacted it
Content per the School Security Leadership tracker. Each row links to the legislature page.
| State | Enacted | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2019 | Requires a panic alarm linked to local law enforcement. | View law Governor’s announcement NJ Schools Development Authority: Alyssa’s Law compliance |
| Florida | 2020 | Requires a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting schools with public safety agencies. | View law |
| New York | 2022 | Requires school districts to consider and evaluate silent panic alarm systems when reviewing and developing school safety plans. | View law |
| Texas | 2023 | Requires silent panic alert technology in every classroom. | View law |
| Tennessee | 2023 | Requires districts to implement mobile panic alert systems that integrate with local emergency dispatch infrastructure. | View law |
| Utah | 2024 | Requires wearable panic alert devices for lead teachers and staff in every classroom. | View law |
| Oklahoma | 2024 | Requires a mobile panic alert system that integrates directly with 911 dispatch infrastructure. | View law |
| Georgia | 2025 | Requires local education agencies to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting emergency services technologies. | View law |
| Washington | 2025 | Requires schools to collaborate with local law enforcement and emergency dispatch on technology-based emergency response systems. | View law |
| Oregon | 2025 | Requires a wireless panic alert device in each classroom. | View law Oregon Department of Education: school safety grants |
| Virginia | 2026 | Permits public K-12 school boards to provide school employees with wearable silent panic alarm systems. | View law |
| West Virginia | 2026 | Allows public schools to implement wearable mobile panic alert systems. | View law |
| Illinois | 2026 | Requires public and private schools to consider using a mobile panic alert system. | View law |
Alyssa’s Law in the Southeast
Enacted
Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Pending
Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and South Carolina. MOSS’s tracker lists no bill for North Carolina or Louisiana.
Alabama
Alabama has not enacted it. In March 2025, the Alabama House passed Rep. Alan Baker’s bill 58 to 30. It would have required districts by 2030 to designate, equip and train staff with mobile emergency rapid response systems that connect with law enforcement and report location, including floor and room. Schools with similar systems already in place would not have had to buy new ones. The Senate did not vote on it. MOSS still lists Alabama as in progress.
Mississippi
HB 42 would require public and charter schools to equip staff with wearable panic alert devices. MOSS notes a $160,000 pilot program funded in May 2025.
What’s pending in other states
As of August 2026, per School Security Leadership. MOSS also lists Nebraska (LB1156). Bill status changes quickly, so each row links to the legislature page.
| State | Key provision | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not enacted. Alabama bills would require mobile emergency rapid response systems that connect with law enforcement and first responders. | The Alabama House passed Rep. Alan Baker’s bill 58 to 30 on March 20, 2025. It would have required districts by 2030 to designate, equip and train staff with these systems, which report location including floor and room. The Senate did not vote on it. Make Our Schools Safe still lists Alabama as in progress. | Alabama Reflector: House approves bill (March 2025) LegiScan: Alabama HB 216 (2024) |
| Arizona | Would require silent panic alarms in K-12 public and charter schools. | Pending (HB 2803). | LegiScan: Arizona HB 2803 |
| Arkansas | Would require public and open-enrollment public charter schools to implement a mobile panic alert system. | Pending (HB 1492). | Arkansas Legislature: HB 1492 |
| Kentucky | Would permit public schools to implement wearable silent panic alarms and establish a framework for their use. | Pending (HB 14). | Kentucky Legislature: HB 14 (2025) |
| Maine | Would require silent panic alert systems in public schools to directly notify law enforcement during emergencies. | Pending (LD 808). | Maine Legislature: LD 808 |
| Massachusetts | Would require public schools to install silent panic alarms directly linked to local law enforcement. | Pending (H. 3881). | Massachusetts Legislature: H.3881 |
| Michigan | Would require each school building to be equipped with at least one panic alarm. | Pending (HB 4241, 2023 session). Check the Michigan Legislature for current status. | Michigan Legislature: HB 4241 |
| Mississippi | Would require public and charter schools to equip staff with wearable panic alert devices. | Pending (HB 42). Make Our Schools Safe notes a $160,000 pilot program funded in May 2025. | Mississippi Legislature: HB 42 |
| Missouri | Would require public and charter schools to provide staff with wearable panic alert devices and implement critical incident response mapping. | Pending (SB 1733 and HB 3174, 2026). | Missouri Senate: SB 1733 (2026) Missouri House: HB 3174 (2026) |
| Nebraska | Alyssa’s Law was introduced in Nebraska (LB1156), according to Make Our Schools Safe. | Listed as introduced. Check the Nebraska Legislature for the current status. | MOSS tracker |
| Ohio | Would require public and chartered nonpublic schools to adopt wearable panic alert systems. | Pending (SB 313). | Ohio Legislature: SB 313 |
| Pennsylvania | Would require schools to consider implementing silent panic alarm systems in classrooms as part of annual safety and security reviews. | HB 634 has passed the House and awaits Senate consideration. | Pennsylvania General Assembly: HB 634 |
| South Carolina | Would require mobile panic alert systems in public schools. | Pending (HB 3258). | South Carolina Legislature: H. 3258 |
Is there a federal Alyssa’s Law?
Not yet. The ALYSSA Act (Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in Schools Safety Alert Act) would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act so that, as a condition of receiving funds, each school district ensures every elementary and secondary school has at least one panic alarm, defined as a manually activated silent signal to alert law enforcement. MOSS lists the current bill as H.R. 6809.
As of August 2026, the ALYSSA Act remained in the House Education and Workforce Committee and had not advanced beyond the introduced stage.
What to look for in a panic alert system
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools recommends that districts consider the following (as summarized by School Security Leadership):
Involve local responders
Involve local responders in planning and in deciding where devices go.
Cover the whole campus
Cover the whole campus, including athletic fields, playgrounds and parking lots, and know whether responders will learn where an emergency is happening.
Decide how alerts reach law enforcement
PASS recommends automatic notification through a 24/7 monitoring station and/or a 911 call center under state and local law, plus an MOU with law enforcement.
Plan for reliability and redundancy
Include ways to verify devices are communicating, backup transmission methods and backup power.
Integrate with what you have
Integrate with access control, video and communication systems.
Plan for testing, maintenance and long-term costs
Plan for testing, maintenance and long-term costs, and pilot where appropriate.
Alyssa’s Law, Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act
Kari’s Law, Ray Baum’s Act and NG911 compliance cover the phone system’s 911 calls. Alyssa’s Law covers the panic button. Many districts need both.
| Alyssa’s Law | Kari’s Law | Ray Baum’s Act | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | State | Federal | Federal |
| What it covers | Silent panic alerts in schools, which vary by state | Direct 911 dialing and notification from phone systems | Dispatchable location sent with 911 calls |
| Learn more | This page | Kari’s Law guide | NG911 and Ray Baum’s Act guide |
Paying for it
Federal
The COPS Office’s FY2026 SVPP FAQ lists “panic and immediate alarm notification systems” among allowable equipment and technology. Awards are competitive, each budget item is reviewed case by case, and a 25% local cash match applies. Check the COPS SVPP page for the current round.
State examples
Florida allocated $6.4 million in recurring funds (CNN via ABC17). Connecticut’s SB 1216 made panic alarms eligible for its School Security Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program (MOSS). Oregon runs a Wireless Panic Alarm Grant.
Cost examples
Alabaster City Schools reported about $8,000 per school per year for its wearable system. Gwinnett County, Georgia approved $7 million.
Ambit’s role
Our free Grant Assistance Team helps you prepare your application documents. You edit, approve and file; we never file for you.
What the evidence shows
Advocates say time equals life. A 2026 report from the vendor CENTEGIX found that of more than 346,000 alerts from its wearable systems in the 2025-26 school year, 88% involved everyday issues like fights, 10% were medical emergencies and 2% were suspicious behavior or campuswide emergencies (report). School safety consultant Kenneth Trump argues that this suggests schools should not be mandated to use them.
Our view is that a panic alert is one layer. Policies, training, drills and responder coordination decide whether it works.
How Ambit helps
Map your state’s rules to a plan
We help you turn your state’s requirements, such as device type, 911 connection and location, into a project. We are not a law firm, so confirm obligations with counsel.
Our IP intercom integrates with physical panic buttons and external emergency notification software, and our NG911 compliance work covers the 911 side.
ALERT and campus mapping give notifications and responders the room and floor.
ADMP monitors device health, and cellular failover keeps outbound calling available during an outage.
Alyssa’s Law frequently asked questions
Straight answers, with the source for each one.
What is Alyssa’s Law?
Is Alyssa’s Law a federal law?
No. The ALYSSA Act is pending in the House Education and Workforce Committee as of August 2026 (School Security Leadership).
Which states have passed it?
Thirteen: New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia and Illinois (MOSS).
Has Alabama passed Alyssa’s Law?
Not as of MOSS’s October 2026 tracker. The Alabama House passed a bill in March 2025, and the Senate did not vote on it (Alabama Reflector).
What do the laws require?
It varies. Some require specific technology, some require a mobile panic alert system connected to public safety, some ask districts to consider or evaluate one, and some allow it (School Security Leadership).
Do we need wearable panic buttons?
It depends on your state. Utah requires wearable devices for certain staff, Texas requires silent panic alert technology in classrooms, Oregon requires a wireless panic alert device in each classroom, and Virginia and West Virginia allow wearables (School Security Leadership).
Does it apply to private schools?
Most versions cover public schools. Illinois’ version covers public and private schools, per School Security Leadership. Read your state’s text.
How is Alyssa’s Law different from Kari’s Law?
Kari’s Law is a federal law about direct 911 dialing and notification from phone systems (our Kari’s Law guide). Alyssa’s Law is a set of state laws about silent panic alerts.
How do panic alerts connect to 911?
Some state laws require integration with 911 or dispatch, such as Tennessee and Oklahoma. PASS recommends notifying law enforcement through a 24/7 monitoring station and/or 911 call center and signing an MOU (PASS guidelines).
How much does a system cost?
It varies. One Alabama district reported about $8,000 per school per year, and Gwinnett County, Georgia approved $7 million.
Can grants pay for it?
COPS SVPP lists panic and immediate alarm notification systems as allowable (FY2026 FAQ), and some states have their own funds. Awards are competitive and require a local match.
What should districts in states without a law do now?
Follow the PASS guidance: involve responders, plan campus-wide coverage and testing, and decide how alerts reach law enforcement (PASS guidelines).
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: October 2026. State laws change often, so check the source links for the latest.
- Make Our Schools Safe: Alyssa’s Law state tracker
- School Security Leadership: Alyssa’s Law by state
- Stateline: More states are putting panic alarms in schools (September 2, 2026)
- Partner Alliance for Safer Schools: Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, 7th edition
- New Jersey Governor: Alyssa’s Law signing announcement (2019)
- Florida Senate: SB 70 (2020)
- New York Senate: S7132A
- Texas Legislature Online: SB 838
- Tennessee General Assembly: HB 0322
- Utah Legislature: HB 84 (2024)
- Oklahoma Legislature: HB 4073 (enrolled)
- Georgia General Assembly: legislation 63689
- Washington Legislature: SB 5004 (2025)
- Oregon Legislature: HB 3101
- Virginia LIS: HB 592 (2026)
- LegiScan: West Virginia HB 4798 (2026)
- Illinois General Assembly: HB 5107
- Alabama Reflector: Alabama House approves bill requiring panic buttons (March 2025)
- COPS Office: FY2026 School Violence Prevention Program FAQ (PDF)
- CNN via ABC17: Experts say panic buttons can enhance school safety
- ABC 33/40: Lawmakers push for school panic alert systems
- CENTEGIX: 2026 School Safety Trends Report (PDF)
- Kenneth Trump: Why states should reject Alyssa’s Law and school panic button mandates
- Ambit: Kari’s Law guide
Get your panic alert plan ready before your state decides
Our 911 readiness review checks how your phones, intercoms and alerts reach 911 today, and shows where a panic alert system would fit.
