By Tony Bouvia, VP Sales, SOS Technologies
A Name We Should Never Forget and a Mission We Cannot Ignore
As a father and grandfather, school safety is not an abstract policy discussion for me. I have a granddaughter in school today, with younger grandchildren who will follow. Like every parent and grandparent, I want to believe that when we send them through those doors, the people responsible for their safety have every possible tool available to protect them.
That is why Alyssa’s Law, what it stands for, and the protection it is fighting to provide, means so much to me.
More Than the Name of a Law
Alyssa’s Law honors Alyssa Alhadeff, who was only 14 when she was killed in the February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Alyssa was an honor student, a winning debater, a competitive soccer player and team captain, a friend, a big sister, and a deeply loved daughter. She had plans and an entire life ahead of her. She should still be here.
Her parents, Lori and Ilan Alhadeff, turned unimaginable grief into action by creating Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS) and fighting for practical changes that can protect other children. Every state that passes Alyssa’s Law carries her name forward through action, not simply remembrance.
Why the Law Matters
Although requirements vary by state, Alyssa’s Law generally calls for silent panic alert technology that can instantly connect schools with law enforcement or emergency responders during a life-threatening event. Its significance is simple: it saves time.
During an emergency, teachers should have a simple and immediate way to call for help. They should not have to jump through hoops, navigate complex keystrokes, or make a phone call while trying to protect their students. One simple action should notify responders and provide the location and intelligence they need to act quickly.
When help is needed, seconds are a precious commodity. They can make a difference for a child, a teacher, a first responder, or any family waiting for someone they love to come home.
Where Alyssa’s Law Stands
As of June 2026, Make Our Schools Safe identifies 12 states that have passed Alyssa’s Law or a recognized state version: New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Another 14 states have legislation introduced or in progress: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Connecticut has also made panic alarms and emergency response systems eligible for school security grant funding, although that step is not yet Alyssa’s Law.
Passing the Law Is the Beginning
The button itself is not the outcome. The outcome is a verified alert reaching the right responders in seconds, with precise location and useful information. Schools also need reliable technology, tested workflows, training, system monitoring, and redundant communication paths.
At SOS Technologies, our mission is centered on creating a more direct and rapid connection to help. That matters to me professionally, but it is personal long before it is professional. When I think about school safety, I think about my grandchildren, their teachers and every family trusting that help will be notified immediately if the unthinkable happens.
Alyssa should still be here. We cannot change that heartbreaking truth. But we can honor her by acting with urgency, protecting the children who enter our schools every day and remembering that, in an emergency, time is not a detail.