SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously passed Alyssa’s Law (House Bill 3083) on Tuesday. The legislation would require school districts across the state to consider implementing panic alarm systems to improve emergency response times in schools.
The legislation, named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old who lost her life in the 2017 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School active shooter attack, passed with a unanimous 50-0 vote.
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Introduced by Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Central Oregon), the bill seeks to equip schools with mobile-based wireless or wearable panic alarm systems designed to connect teachers and staff directly with emergency medical services and first responders in the event of a crisis. The goal of implementing panic alarms is to provide faster response times, critical during emergencies such as medical incidents or school shootings.
When Are School Panic Buttons Most Often Pushed?
School teachers and other employees activate their panic buttons most often for medical emergencies, according to research from Campus Safety. Schools in other states utilizing panic alarm systems have seen 80% of alerts triggered for medical issues, including allergic reactions, seizures, and cardiac arrest events, according to findings from KATU. This research underscores the systems’ broader utility beyond security incidents,
Funding to support Alyssa’s Law is available through the Oregon Department of Education’s School Safety and Emergency Management (SSEM) program. Under the Wireless Panic Alarm Grant, school districts will receive $2,000 per school as reimbursement for implementing the alarm systems.
Other States Have Already Implemented or Are Considering Passage of Alyssa’s Law
Seven other states, including New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Oklahoma, have already enacted versions of Alyssa’s Law. Meanwhile, six additional states are actively considering similar legislation. At the federal level, attempts have also been made to pass a nationwide version of Alyssa’s Law.
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House Bill 3083 now advances to the Oregon Senate for consideration.
