Alyssa’s Law by State: Tracking School Panic Button Laws and Requirements

This article was last updated Aug. 11, 2026. School Security Leadership will continue updating this tracker as states enact or consider new school panic alert requirements.

Illinois has become the latest state to enact Alyssa’s Law, continuing a nationwide trend toward legislation addressing panic alert technology in K-12 schools.

The legislation joins similar laws enacted in states including New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Virginia. While commonly grouped under the name “Alyssa’s Law,” the requirements are not uniform from state to state.

What Is Alyssa’s Law?

Alyssa’s Law is named for Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Her family has advocated for legislation intended to reduce the time it takes for schools to alert law enforcement and other first responders during an emergency.

The term generally refers to legislation addressing panic alert or emergency notification systems in schools. However, Alyssa’s Law does not represent a single set of requirements across states. Depending on the state, legislation may require, authorize, or direct schools to consider mobile, wearable, wireless, or silent panic alert systems and may establish different requirements for how those systems communicate with law enforcement or emergency dispatch.

Alyssa’s Law Requirements Vary by State

Although these measures are commonly grouped under the Alyssa’s Law name, state laws vary considerably in what they require schools to do.

Some states mandate specific technologies or capabilities. For instance, Texas requires silent panic alert technology in classrooms, while Utah requires wearable panic alert devices for certain school personnel. Other states have taken less prescriptive approaches. New York requires districts to consider and evaluate silent panic alarm systems when reviewing school safety plans, while Virginia allows school boards to provide employees with wearable silent panic alarms if they so choose.

Requirements also differ in which schools are covered, where panic alert devices must be available, how alerts connect with law enforcement or emergency dispatch, and when schools must comply.

Those differences make it important for school leaders to look beyond whether their state has “passed Alyssa’s Law” and understand the specific requirements that apply to their schools.

States That Have Enacted Alyssa’s Law or Related Panic Alert Legislation

At least 13 states have enacted Alyssa’s Law or related legislation addressing school panic alert and emergency response systems.

State requirements vary. This chart summarizes key provisions and should not be interpreted as legal guidance.

States With Pending Alyssa’s Law Legislation

Alyssa’s Law legislation is also being considered in several additional states. The table below includes active legislation as of August 2026. Because bill status can change quickly, readers should consult the linked state legislative records for the most current information.

Bill status can change throughout a legislative session. Follow the linked legislation for the most current information.

Is There a Federal Alyssa’s Law?

While Alyssa’s Law is not currently a federal requirement, legislation has been introduced in Congress that would establish a nationwide panic alarm requirement for schools receiving federal education funding.

The proposed Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in Schools Safety Alert Act, or ALYSSA Act, would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies, as a condition of receiving funds under the law, to ensure that each elementary and secondary school they serve is equipped with at least one panic alarm for use during a school emergency.

The legislation defines a panic alarm as a manually activated silent security signal intended to alert law enforcement to a life-threatening or emergency situation. The bill specifically identifies non-fire evacuations, lockdowns, and active shooter situations as examples of emergencies in which the alarms could be used.

As of August 2026, the bill remains in the House Committee on Education and Workforce and has not advanced beyond the introduced stage.

Districts Are Adopting Panic Alert Systems Without Mandates

California has not enacted a statewide requirement for school panic alert systems, but some districts are implementing the technology voluntarily.

Savanna School District in Southern California recently deployed wearable emergency alert badges across its four schools. The badges allow staff members to request assistance and integrate with the district’s mass notification system to support a coordinated emergency response.

According to the district, the project was supported through a combination of federal, state, and district funding. Superintendent Dr. Sue Johnson told NBC LA that Savanna is the first California school district to implement the solution across all campuses.

The district also provided staff training on badge operation, emergency procedures, and scenario-based exercises.

Panic Alert Systems Are One Part of Emergency Preparedness

Panic alert systems can help schools quickly communicate an emergency and request assistance, but implementing the technology is only one part of the process.

As School Security Leadership has previously reported, school safety practitioners have emphasized that mandated technologies are most effective when supported by clear policies and procedures, staff training, emergency planning, and coordination with first responders.

A recent example from Deer Park ISD in Texas illustrates how those considerations can play out in practice. The district, which uses wearable panic alert badges, provides annual staff training, incorporates the technology into emergency drills, and has established procedures for accidental activations. Lockdown alerts are also shared with school resource officers and local police.

District leaders also said they encountered problems with some of the system’s location sensors during the first year of implementation. Those issues were subsequently addressed, according to the district, underscoring the importance of testing and refining emergency technology after deployment.

What Schools Should Consider When Implementing Panic Alert Systems

For schools and districts, complying with a panic alarm requirement also means determining how the technology will function within existing emergency plans, communication systems, and relationships with first responders.

The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) addresses many of those considerations in its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, 7th Edition. The guidelines recommend a layered approach to school security in which technology is supported by policies and procedures, defined roles and training, and communication.

For panic alarm systems specifically, PASS recommends that districts consider several factors:

• Involve local responders in planning. Schools should consult their security professionals, district safety teams, law enforcement and other first responders when evaluating panic alarm systems and determining where devices are needed.
• Evaluate location and campus-wide coverage. Districts should consider whether responders will receive enough information to know where an emergency is occurring and whether the system has reliable connectivity throughout the campus, including athletic fields, playgrounds, parking lots and other exterior areas.
• Establish how alerts will reach law enforcement. PASS recommends that panic alarms automatically notify law enforcement through a 24/7 monitoring station and/or 911 call center in accordance with state and local law. It also recommends establishing an MOU with law enforcement governing how panic alarms will be handled.
• Plan for reliability and redundancy. Wireless and wearable systems should include safeguards that allow districts to verify devices are communicating properly, along with redundant methods for transmitting alerts and backup power.
• Consider existing security systems. Panic alarms can be integrated with other technologies, including access control, video surveillance and communication systems. PASS notes that integration can help automate certain emergency response functions and provide responders with additional real-time information.
• Plan for testing, maintenance and long-term costs. Emergency technologies require ongoing testing and maintenance, and districts should consider both upfront and recurring costs when selecting a system. PASS also recommends pilot programs when appropriate.

These considerations also illustrate why the details of implementation matter when states mandate a particular school safety technology. PASS cautions against deploying advanced or high-cost technologies before baseline security measures are in place and against relying on a single technology to address a broad range of safety and security challenges.