Alyssa's Law
Where every state stands on silent panic alarms in schools.
Every fact checked against the official source by an independent reviewer · Last verified October 25, 2026
- Required8
- If funded, or a state system2
- Consider, or allowed8
- Funding only10
- Bill pending or failed9
- No law found14
What is Alyssa's Law?
Alyssa's Law is the name several states give their laws on silent panic alarms in K-12 schools.
It is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who was one of 17 people killed in a shooting at the school in February 2018. New Jersey passed a law called Alyssa's Law in 2019, and Florida passed its own in 2020.
The laws are not the same. New Jersey requires a panic alarm in every public school building, Texas requires silent panic alert technology in every classroom, and New York only requires safety teams to consider one.
Many, including New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia, connect the alert to 911 or local law enforcement.
Which states have an Alyssa's Law?
The table below gives the status in every state and the District of Columbia as of October 25, 2026, with the operative words of each law.
| State | Status (operative words) | Law or bill | Effective | Who's covered | State funding | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Funding and inspection standards. The school-security inspection rubric must include standards for panic buttons; the state board "may award grants" | School Security Act, Act 2024-356 (SB98), Ala. Code § 16-22B-3 | Oct 1, 2024 | Public K-12 schools | Grants only as the Legislature appropriates | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Alaska | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Arizona | Funding only. Fund money "may be used only" for sheriff or police school safety programs that integrate manually activated panic alarm systems | A.R.S. § 41-1733 | — | Schools in sheriff and police programs | $2,000,000 transfer for 2026-2027 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Required only "if funding is available": a panic button alert system, or other means of emergency communication with law enforcement | Ark. Code § 6-15-1302 (Act 620 of 2021) | Deadline Oct 1, 2021 | Public schools | None specific; the state said none would go to panic buttons in 2022-23 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| California | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Colorado | General security grant. Recipients "may use" money for equipment that speeds communication during a threat; panic alarms not named | School Security Disbursement Program | — | Districts, charter schools, BOCES | Depends on appropriations | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Funding only. A state grant repays eligible costs, and the eligible list names panic alarms; applying is optional | Section 84 of PA 13-3, as amended by PA 25-102 and PA 25-157 | Jul 1, 2025 | Public, charter and nonpublic schools | 20–80% of costs for towns; 50% up to $50,000 for nonpublic schools | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delaware | New schools and major renovations "must include" a panic button or intruder alert system | 14 Del. C. § 2306(b)(4) | Jan 1, 2019 | New construction and major renovations | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Florida | Each public school "shall implement" a mobile panic alert system (Alyssa's Alert) | Fla. Stat. § 1006.07(4) | Jul 1, 2020 | Public schools, including charter schools | $6.4 million recurring, per the state | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Georgia | Each public school "shall implement" a mobile panic alert system by July 1, 2026 | O.C.G.A. § 20-2-591 (HB 268, 2025) | Apr 28, 2025; deadline Jul 1, 2026 | Public schools | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Hawaii | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Idaho | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Illinois | Districts and private schools "shall consider" a mobile panic alert system by the 2028-2029 school year | 105 ILCS 128/42 (Public Act 104-0789) | Jan 1, 2027 | Districts and private schools | None; a grant fund was cut from the bill | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Indiana | Funding only. The state board "may award a grant" for an active event warning system | IC 10-21-1-4.5 | Jul 1, 2019 | Public, charter and accredited nonpublic schools, applying with the county sheriff | One-time grant from the secured school fund | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Iowa | A district "may" purchase, install and operate a mobile panic alert system | Iowa Code § 279.84A (HF 2652, 2024) | May 17, 2024 | School districts | None additional, per the act | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Kansas | No statute found. State guidelines list panic buttons as one example of security technology | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Bill failed. HB 643 (2026) would have let districts use wearable panic alerts; it passed the House 93-0 and stopped in the Senate | HB 643 (2026) | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Louisiana | The state center "may" run emergency notification systems. Act 846 of 2026 repealed R.S. 29:726.5, 726.5.1 and 726.6, effective June 8, 2026 | La. R.S. 15:1216 (Act 846 of 2026) | Jun 8, 2026 | Schools, by agreement | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Maine | Bills failed. LD 168 and LD 808 (2025) died May 14, 2025 | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Maryland | Funding only. A grant program; a funded system "may include" a phone app linked to 911 | HB 1167, Chapter 293 of 2024 | Jul 1, 2024 | Local school systems | The Governor "may" include money; not on the FY2027 grants list | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Pending. H.741 and H.623 would require panic alarms | H.741, H.623 (2025-2026) | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Michigan | Pending. SB 76 and HB 4198 would require a mobile panic alert system | SB 76, HB 4198 (2025-2026) | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Bills failed. HF 4571 and SF 4630 (2026) died when the Legislature adjourned May 18, 2026 | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Bills failed. The 2025 and 2026 Alyssa's Law bills died in committee | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Missouri | No statute. A state-funded alert app was optional for schools; the FY2027 school safety platform money was vetoed | — | — | — | Vetoed for FY2027 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Montana | Bill failed. Draft LC1521 died before introduction in 2025 | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Nebraska | General security grant; panic alarms not named in the law | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-3108 (LB705, 2023) | — | Public districts and nonpublic schools | Depends on appropriations | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Nevada | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Every public school building "shall be equipped with" at least one panic alarm | N.J.S.A. 18A:41-11 (P.L.2019, c.33) | Approved Feb 6, 2019 | Public elementary and secondary school buildings | Bond Act funds pay the full cost | Oct 25, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Funding only. $1.5 million a year for school safety interoperable alert systems | General Appropriation Acts 2025 and 2026 | — | — | $1.5 million in 2025 and in 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| New York | Safety teams "shall consider" a panic alarm system; building plans "may include" one | N.Y. Educ. Law § 2801-a (Ch. 227 of 2022) | Jun 23, 2022 | School districts, BOCES, NYC schools | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| North Carolina | The state "shall implement and maintain" a statewide panic alarm system | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-105.51(c) | — | Employees of public secondary schools, including charter schools | $4,462,475 in 2021-22 for the statewide app | Oct 25, 2026 |
| North Dakota | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Ohio | Funding only. State school safety grants; the Attorney General lists silent panic alarms as a potential use | HB 96 (2025 budget) | Jun 30, 2025 | Public and chartered nonpublic schools, among others | More than $9 million for 2026-2027 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Each district "shall implement" a mobile panic alert system | 70 O.S. § 5-149.4 (HB 4073, 2024) | Jul 1, 2024 | School districts | State school security money may pay; the law lists mobile panic alert systems | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Oregon | A school's governing body "shall consider" installing a panic alarm system | ORS 339.408(3) (HB 3083, 2025) | Jan 1, 2026 | Public, charter and private schools | $2,000 reimbursement grant, per the Legislature's staff summary | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Funding only. State grant criteria include silent panic alarms. HB 634, which would require schools to consider one, passed the House 200-3 | 24 P.S. § 13-1306-B; HB 634 (2025-2026) | — | Districts, charter and approved private schools, among others | School Safety and Security Grants | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Pending. H.3258 would require each district and charter school to implement a mobile panic alert system | H.3258 (2025-2026) | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Bill failed. HB 1035 (2025) would have funded panic buttons; it was tabled | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Safety teams "shall consider" a mobile panic alert system | Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-804(a) (Pub. Ch. 367, 2023) | Jul 1, 2023 | Districts and public charter schools | Grant pilot, up to $8,000 per school | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Texas | Each district and charter school "shall provide" silent panic alert technology in each classroom | Tex. Educ. Code § 37.118 (SB 838, 2023) | 2025-2026 school year | Districts and open-enrollment charter schools | School safety allotment may pay | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Utah | An LEA "shall provide" wearable panic alert devices to lead teachers | Utah Code § 53G-8-805 | May 1, 2024 | Districts, charter schools, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Vermont | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Virginia | A school board "may provide" wearable panic alarm systems | Va. Code § 22.1-79.4:1 (HB 592, 2026) | Jul 1, 2026 | Public school employees | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Washington | Each district "must" develop an emergency response system; panic buttons are one allowed option | RCW 28A.320.126 (ESSB 5004, 2025) | Jul 27, 2025 | Districts, charter and tribal compact schools | $6 million capital grant program, per OSPI | Oct 25, 2026 |
| West Virginia | County boards "may" provide wearable panic alert devices, contingent on funding | W. Va. Code § 18-9F-9a (HB 4798, 2026) | Jun 8, 2026 | Public schools | Alyssa Alhadeff School Safety Fund | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Wyoming | No law found | — | — | — | — | Oct 25, 2026 |
"No law found" means we searched the official legislature and code sites and found no law or 2025–2026 bill on school panic alarms. It is not proof that none exists.
Which states require a panic alarm in schools?
New Jersey requires at least one panic alarm in every public school building, and Texas requires silent panic alert technology in every classroom. Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma require a mobile panic alert system, and Utah requires wearable panic alert devices for lead teachers. Washington requires an emergency response system in which panic buttons are one option, and Delaware requires a panic button or intruder alert system in new and majorly renovated schools.
Which states only require schools to consider one?
New York, Tennessee, Illinois and Oregon use the words "shall consider." Schools there must weigh a panic alarm in their safety planning, but they do not have to install one.
Which states allow but do not require panic alarms?
Iowa, Virginia and West Virginia say school districts or boards "may" provide them. Arkansas requires one only "if funding is available," and its Department of Education says districts are not required to buy one.
Does Alyssa's Law apply to private schools?
It depends on the state. Illinois covers private schools, and Oregon covers public, charter and private schools. Florida's law covers public and charter schools, and New Jersey's covers public school buildings.
Does the alarm have to connect to 911?
In several states, yes. Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma require integration with 911 call centers, Utah requires the device to communicate directly with them, and New Jersey requires a direct link to local law enforcement. Illinois requires a deployed system to send its alert to the 911 center serving the school.
How do schools pay for a panic alarm system?
It depends on the state. Texas lets districts use the school safety allotment, Oklahoma law lists mobile panic alert systems among the school security improvements state money can pay for, and New Jersey's Bond Act funds pay the full cost of required alarms. Florida's Department of Education says the Legislature allocated $6.4 million in recurring funds, and Tennessee runs a grant pilot of up to $8,000 per school.
Which states have bills pending?
Massachusetts (H.741 and H.623), Michigan (SB 76 and HB 4198) and South Carolina (H.3258) have bills that would require panic alarms. Pennsylvania's HB 634, which would require schools to consider one, passed the House 200-3 on September 29, 2026.
State guides
Arkansas · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Iowa · New Jersey · New York · Oklahoma · Oregon · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia
How can QuickSecure help?
Panic, the QuickSecure mobile app, lets any staff member raise an Alert from a phone. Schools start with Lockdown, Fire, Medical and Admin Alerts, each with its response workflow already built, and can add their own Alert types with their own workflows.
Schools can also add a physical panic button.
Each school sets how every Alert type behaves: silent or announced, a critical alert or a normal notification, whether it also sends email and text messages, and how it looks, down to its color, icon and wording.
Dispatch sends the Alert straight to 911 through RapidSOS, with one confirmation step. Each school chooses which Alert types call 911.
Mass notifications lets a school choose how each message goes out: app notifications, critical alerts, text messages or email.
Nexus holds campus maps and floor plans, plus details such as where the AEDs are, who is on site, which class each person is in and their status, and responders can see them during an Alert.
Drill management runs practice drills through the same workflow as a real Alert, so in a real emergency every step is already familiar and nobody stops to second-guess it. A drill never sends a real Dispatch.
This is not a statement that any product satisfies a state's law; read your state's page and ask your counsel.