Alyssa’s Law, explained plainly
Alyssa’s Law is the name for state laws about silent panic alarms in K-12 schools. The name is the same everywhere, but the rules aren’t. In some states it’s required, in some it’s allowed, and in others schools only have to consider it. Find your state below and see what it means for your school.
Last checked: November 4, 2026
What it is
At its core, Alyssa’s Law is about one tool: a silent panic alarm. Staff use it to alert 911 or police right away during an emergency, without saying a word or picking up a phone. Newer versions usually mean a phone app or wearable badge that works anywhere on campus and sends the alert straight into the local 911 center’s system.
The law is named for Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Her parents founded Make Our Schools Safe, which has pushed for the law state by state. New Jersey passed it first, in 2019.
Required, allowed, or “consider”
This part causes the most confusion. Even vendor websites get it wrong. Every state’s law is called “Alyssa’s Law,” but there are three kinds:
Required
Schools must have the system, usually by a deadline.
Example: Georgia required every public school to have a mobile panic alert system by July 1, 2026.
Allowed
Schools may use one, and the law sets the rules if they do.
Example: Virginia lets school boards give staff wearable panic alarms.
Consider
Schools must think about it in their emergency plans, but they don’t have to buy one.
Example: New York asks district safety teams to consider a panic alarm system in their safety plans.
Look up your state
Tap your state on the map or choose it from the list to see what its law says, when it passed, and what your school needs to do.
Pick a state to see its Alyssa’s Law details.
All states at a glance
The states that have passed a version of Alyssa’s Law. Last checked: November 4, 2026.
| State | Passed | Type | What it says, in short |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2019 | Required | At least one silent panic alarm in every public school building, linked to local police. The first state. |
| Florida | 2020 | Required | A mobile panic alert system in every public and charter school. |
| New York | 2022 | Consider | District safety teams must consider a panic alarm system in their district-wide safety plans. |
| Tennessee | 2023 | Consider | School safety teams must consider a mobile panic alert system in their safety plans. |
| Texas | 2023 | Required | Silent panic alert technology in every classroom, starting in 2025–26. |
| Oklahoma | 2024 | Required | Every school district must use a mobile panic alert system, starting in 2024–25. |
| Utah | 2024 | Required | A wearable panic alert device for a staff member in each classroom. |
| Georgia | 2025 | Required | A mobile panic alert system in every public school by July 1, 2026. |
| Oregon | 2025 | Consider | Schools must consider installing a panic alarm system. |
| Washington | 2025 | Required | An emergency response system built with police and 911. Panic buttons are one of several options. |
| Illinois | 2026 | Consider | Districts and private schools must consider a mobile panic alert system in their emergency plans by 2028–29. |
| Virginia | 2026 | Allowed | School boards may give staff wearable panic alarms. |
| West Virginia | 2026 | Allowed | County boards may give school employees wearable panic alert devices if money is available. |
Laws change. Check your state’s education department or legislature for the current text. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Is there a federal law?
No, not yet. Members of Congress from both parties have introduced bills several times since 2019, including the ALYSSA Act and Alyssa’s Act. These would require or pay for silent panic alarms in public schools nationwide. None has passed. Right now, whether your school has to do anything depends on your state.
What to do at your school
A starting checklist for K-12 administrators and safety teams:
- Know which type your state has.Required, allowed, consider, or none yet. Use the map above.
- Call your 911 center first.Ask what systems it can take alerts from before you talk to vendors.
- Check your emergency plan.Write down how staff call for help today and how fast it reaches responders.
- Look for funding.Some states have grants and others don’t. Check your state education department.
- Plan for training and testing.A button only helps if staff know when to press it and it’s been tested.
Common questions
Does my school have to install a panic alarm?
That depends on your state. In “required” states, yes. In “allowed” and “consider” states, it’s the school’s choice. If your state hasn’t passed Alyssa’s Law, there’s no state requirement yet, though your district may still have its own policy.
Who pays for it?
It depends on the state. Some states have set aside grant money. Others give no money, so the school pays for the system and its 911 connection. Check your state’s card above.
Does it cover private and charter schools?
It varies. Some states include charter schools, and a few, like Illinois, include private schools too. Check your state’s card above.
Is a panic button the same as calling 911?
It’s meant to be faster and silent, and it can tell responders exactly where the alert came from. It doesn’t replace calling 911 when you can.
Does this apply to colleges?
No. Alyssa’s Law covers K-12 schools. Colleges and universities have their own campus safety rules.
Sources
Each state’s card links to its official bill or law. Also see:
- Alyssa’s Law by state (Make Our Schools Safe)
Last checked November 4, 2026. States keep passing new versions, so we re-check this page every few months. This page is general information, not legal advice.