As of March 2026, legislation on Alyssa’s Law is currently under review in Ohio. Senate Bill 105 (136th General Assembly) proposes requiring public and chartered nonpublic schools to implement wearable panic alert systems beginning in the 2025 to 2026 school year. House Bill 106, introduced in early 2025, proposes a pilot grant program that would provide $25 million in funding to help schools purchase panic alert systems or AI-based firearm detection software.
Alyssa’s Law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. The legislation emerged from efforts to improve emergency response communication inside schools, so staff can quickly alert law enforcement during a crisis.
As Alyssa’s Law proposals move through the legislative process, many administrators are already evaluating school safety solutions. Unfortunately, some schools confuse simple internet-dependent devices with purpose-built emergency response technology. Knowing the difference could save lives.
The Intent of Ohio’s Proposed Alyssa’s Law Legislation
Ohio’s Proposed Alyssa’s Law Requirements for School Panic Button Systems
Both SB 105 and HB 106 pursue two primary goals:
- Immediate notification to personnel on campus
- Rapid dispatch of local law enforcement
SB 105 would require every public and chartered nonpublic school to implement a wearable panic alert system capable of integrating with local 911 infrastructure. HB 106 would create a voluntary grant program that allows schools to adopt these systems using state funding.
While the legislative approaches differ, both proposals aim to reduce school emergency response time by strengthening communication between schools and first responders when seconds matter most. These requirements form the foundation of the Alyssa’s Law mandates currently under consideration.
The Federal Push: Alyssa Act (H.R. 1524)
Ohio’s legislation reflects a broader national effort to strengthen school emergency response systems.
At the federal level, the Alyssa Act (H.R. 1524), reintroduced in the 119th Congress for the 2025 to 2026 legislative session, would require silent panic alarms in all public elementary and secondary schools.
The Alyssa Act builds on laws already passed in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and several other states. The legislation seeks to establish a consistent national standard for rapid emergency notification within schools.
Lawmakers also introduced H.R. 6809, which proposes improvements to the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety and supports the development of school safety data centers and emergency mapping technology.
Federal legislation could eventually establish a national baseline for school emergency alert systems. Schools that implement solutions aligned with Alyssa’s Law mandates now will be better positioned regardless of which legislation advances first.
Complying with the Wearable Panic Button Mandate
Under SB 105, the word “wearable” carries a specific legal meaning. Staff must carry a wearable panic button for schools on their person rather than mounting it on a wall. Common examples include a lanyard badge, belt clip, or similar attachment that allows staff members to keep the device with them throughout the day. Teachers move between classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and outdoor areas. The safety system must move with them.
Alyssa’s Law Compliance Must-Haves
- Wearable Access: Staff must wear the device using a lanyard, badge, or clip rather than mounting it to a wall.
- Silent Activation: The device must send a distress signal without alerting the perpetrator.
- Direct Connection: The alert must transmit directly to law enforcement or 911 rather than stopping at the school office.
- Real-Time Location: The system must provide actionable location information identifying where the threat is occurring.
Ensuring Campus-Wide Emergency Notifications
Alyssa’s Law mandates also require a whole-campus notification capability. A school panic button alert cannot remain limited to a single hallway or building wing.
The system must reach every area of the campus simultaneously, such as the ones below:
- Gymnasiums
- Modular classrooms
- Outdoor spaces
- Administrative offices
This capability ensures staff and students receive immediate warning when someone identifies a threat.
Schools must also maintain system tracking records for legal and operational review to confirm that the system functioned properly during an emergency event.
Leveraging School Safety Grants in Ohio to Fund Compliance
House Bill 106 proposes $25 million in school safety grants that Ohio schools can access through a pilot funding program. The Ohio Department of Public Safety would manage the application process and distribute the funds. Schools that currently lack a panic alert system would qualify to apply. The legislation also specifies that qualifying safety devices must be developed in the United States.
How to Secure Funding by Exceeding Minimum Safety Standards
Grant proposals become stronger when schools highlight systems that exceed minimum requirements.
Schools can strengthen their applications by emphasizing:
- Under two-second transmission times
- Operation independent from the school internet networks
- Automated 911 data integration
These capabilities signal higher reliability and stronger emergency preparedness.
Why Wi-Fi Fails the Direct Connection Mandate
The legal language in the proposed Alyssa’s Law mandates a direct connection to law enforcement. Standard school Wi-Fi networks introduce multiple failure points that can undermine that requirement.
The Latency Risks of Wi-Fi Emergency Alert Systems
Wi-Fi based panic buttons rely on several communication steps before emergency responders receive the alert.
- Wi-Fi Signal Request: The device connects with the school network.
- Wi-Fi to Local Server: The signal travels through the internal network infrastructure that may experience congestion.
- Cloud Alerts to Third-Party Call Center: The system routes the alert to an external monitoring center.
- Call Center to 911: The monitoring center contacts dispatch and verbally relays the emergency.
Each step introduces additional delay. In many cases, the total delay reaches 30 seconds or more. During an active threat, those seconds directly conflict with the emergency response goals behind Alyssa’s Law.
A Technology Designed for Alyssa’s Law Mandates
Centurion Anywhere by Response Technologies was designed specifically to support the performance requirements outlined in Alyssa’s Law mandates. The system sends alerts directly to school resource officer radios in under two seconds, operates independently from school internet infrastructure, and integrates with RapidSOS to deliver critical emergency data directly to 911 dispatch. Schools evaluating panic button systems should prioritize solutions that eliminate internet dependency and deliver alerts directly to first responders.
Achieving Under Two-Second Response Times with Direct to Radio
Centurion Anywhere by Response Technologies uses direct-to-radio panic button technology that bypasses internet infrastructure entirely. When someone presses the panic button, the alert transmits directly to the school resource officer’s radio in under two seconds.
Why Centurion Anywhere Is Different
- No Wi-Fi dependency
- Under two-second transmission
- Multi-year battery life
- GPS geofencing that protects staff across the entire campus
Fulfilling the 911 Integrated System Requirement
Under Alyssa’s Law mandates, a panic button system must activate a broader security response and provide actionable data to 911 dispatchers.
Automating 911 Data Transfer Through RapidSOS
True 911 integration requires the automatic transfer of critical information to dispatchers the moment someone triggers an alert.
Examples of this type of information:
- Floor plans
- Exact location of the alert
- Building schematics
Through integration with RapidSOS, the Centurion Anywhere system automatically transmits this information. Automation removes the need for verbal communication and reduces the risk of human error during a high-stress emergency.
Triggering a Total Lockdown with One Button
Alyssa’s Law compliance requires that a single button press initiate a coordinated emergency response across the entire campus.
One Button Press Can Trigger a Total Lockdown
- PA System: A pre-recorded lockdown message broadcasts across the campus.
- Access Control: Exterior and interior doors lock automatically.
- Visual Alerts: Warning strobes activate in high-noise areas such as gymnasiums or band rooms.
While law enforcement responds, staff and students remain protected behind locked doors with clear instructions.
Protecting Students and Staff Beyond the Classroom
The scope of the legislation extends beyond classroom walls. Athletic fields, parking lots, bus loops, and outdoor walkways all fall within the coverage area. Direct-to-radio systems on wearable devices maintain reliable coverage across the entire campus.
Device simplicity also plays a major role in adoption. Systems that require mobile apps, frequent charging, or technical setup discourage consistent use. Devices that remain simple, durable, and always active encourage staff members to carry them and use them when needed.
Meeting Alyssa’s Law Mandates with Confidence
In an emergency, time becomes the only metric that truly matters. Schools preparing for Alyssa’s Law mandates should not purchase a device simply to meet a compliance requirement. Schools should implement a system designed to protect students and staff during real emergencies and meet these criteria:
- Reach law enforcement in under two seconds
- Initiate an immediate lockdown response
- Automatically deliver critical information to 911 dispatchers
Request a Consultation and Demo
Understanding the requirements behind Alyssa’s Law mandates is only the first step. Schools also need to evaluate whether their current safety systems can meet those expectations during a real emergency.
A consultation and live demonstration allow school administrators, safety coordinators, and facilities leaders to see how a direct-to-radio panic alert system operates in practice. During the demo, teams can review how alerts reach school resource officers, how location data is transmitted, and how the system integrates with emergency response infrastructure.
This process helps schools evaluate whether their existing tools support the rapid communication and reliability expected under Alyssa’s Law mandates. It also allows decision-makers to ask questions about deployment, campus coverage, and system integration.
Request a consultation to review your campus safety needs and see how a direct-to-radio panic alert system performs in real time.
Five Questions to Ask Your Compliance Vendor
If the school’s internet connection is cut, does your panic button still work?
Our direct-to-radio technology operates independently of the school’s internet, ensuring uninterrupted protection.
Does the alert go directly to police radios or to a call center first?
The alert transmits directly to school resource officer radios and local dispatch systems, eliminating the 30-second delays common with call-center-based solutions.
Can you verify transmission times of under two seconds?
Yes. Our system guarantees that alerts reach the radio network within two seconds of activation.
Does the device require teachers to charge it every night?
No. Wearable badges use multi-year battery technology, allowing them to remain active without additional workload for staff.
Is 911 data integration automated through RapidSOS?
Yes. Critical data, including campus location and building layouts, is transmitted directly to dispatchers, improving accuracy and response time during emergencies.
