Alyssa's Law in Oregon: What It Means for School Safety
In Oregon, Alyssa’s Law passed in the state legislature’s house not just with bipartisan support but with zero opposition. That rare show of unity underscores a growing recognition among lawmakers: schools need more than lockdown drills and good intentions. They need fast, reliable ways to get help in any emergency.
While other variations of Alyssa’s Law mandate schools implement specific solutions, House Bill 3083 directs schools to consider critical communication tools like wearable panic buttons and mobile alert systems that instantly connect to 9-1-1 when reviewing existing security strategies. That flexibility likely helped drive consensus along with the growing number of real-life incidents - not just acts of violence, but medical emergencies, allergic reactions and mental health crises - where quick action with tools like these has saved lives.
Alyssa’s Law in Oregon: A New Chapter for Student Safety
House Bill 3083 amends the state’s existing school safety legislation, which requires schools to document their safety plans as well as regularly conduct emergency drills and training for students and staff. This new amendment would mandate all K-12 public and private schools - and any institution with 50 or more students - to consider panic alarm systems as part of their school safety planning. If adopted, schools that opt to implement these systems need to choose wireless or wearable solutions that seamlessly connect to diverse emergency services technologies, ensure real-time coordination between multiple emergency services agencies and allow for direct communication with local public safety answering points (PSAPs). By integrating panic alarm systems into school safety plans, the state hopes to improve incident outcomes by reducing emergency response times.
State Support and Funding for Panic Alarm Systems
Recognizing the importance of this initiative, the Oregon Legislature has already allocated $2.5 million in funding to support panic alarm implementation across the state. Through the Oregon Department of Education’s School Safety and Emergency Management (SSEM) program, schools can access the Wireless Panic Alarm Grant, which reimburses up to $2,000 per school for these technologies. This financial support removes one of the biggest barriers to adoption and encourages districts to take meaningful action toward safer campuses.
Oregon Joins a Growing National Movement
With the passing of Alyssa’s Law in Oregon, the state joins a growing list of others - like Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Texas - that are embracing this lifesaving technology. Each state’s version of the law varies slightly, but the core purpose remains the same: give school staff a direct line to emergency responders to protect students and staff in moments of crisis.
While no law can prevent every emergency, encouraging the adoption of wearable panic buttons and modern alert systems gives schools a powerful tool to respond faster and more effectively, ultimately improving the outcome of any emergency. Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, continues to be a national advocate for this legislation. “Every time a panic alarm is used, I know it is Alyssa saving lives,” she says.
Proactively Looking for a Solution?
While Oregon’s Alyssa’s Law measure awaits passage in the state’s Senate, we encourage schools to take proactive steps in researching potential solutions. Summer presents the perfect opportunity to implement and train staff on new safety technology, as students are away and staff can focus on learning the system. With summer on the horizon, now is the time to embark on this important journey.
As advocates of Alyssa’s Law and sponsors of Make Our Schools Safe, the 911Cellular team strives to not only provide best-in-class panic buttons, powerful incident management software and a seamlessly integrated emergency notification system but also truly help schools find solutions that keep their staff and students safe. Reach out for a personalized demo of our scalable and customizable solution to see how it can integrate with your existing security measures to enhance your organization’s overall safety.
