Protecting 25,000+ frontline staff — across K-12 school districts and a statewide correctional system.
Cora Alert has secured a statewide correctional system for over a year, deployed through a public-safety technology partner — alongside direct K-12 deployments across multiple states.
Alyssa's Law: What It Requires, State by State
Alyssa's Law requires public schools to give staff a way to send a silent, immediate alert to law enforcement in an emergency — a "silent panic alert" or "mobile panic alert" system. It's named for Alyssa Alhadeff, killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting; New Jersey passed the first version in 2019, and other states have followed with their own versions since. The requirement, the deadline, and even whether it's a mandate or just an option a district can choose varies a lot by state — this page tracks what's actually in each state's law, not what a vendor's marketing page says it requires.
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State | What the law requires | Bill | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey | Mandate — silent alarm system tied to law enforcement, in every public school | A764 (P.L. 2019 c.33) | |
Florida | Mandate — mobile panic alert app/system in every public school | CS/CS/SB 70 (2020) | |
New York | Mandate — silent panic alarm system, phased by district size | S7132A (2022) | |
Texas | Mandate — silent panic alert technology in every classroom | SB 838 / HB 669, Education Code Sec. 37.117 | https://www.cora-alert.com/texas |
Georgia | Mandate — mobile panic alert system in every public school | SB 17 / HB 268 | |
Oregon | Mandate — panic alert capability, rural-district emphasis | HB 3083 | https://www.cora-alert.com/oregon |
West Virginia | Mandate — wearable panic button for every school staff member | HB 4798 | https://www.cora-alert.com/west-virginia |
Louisiana | Mandate — statewide panic emergency notification system and anonymous reporting system, via the state's Center for Safe Schools | SB 207 (Act 334) | |
Oklahoma | Mandate — mobile panic alert systems, with minimum system criteria set by the state | HB 4073 (2024) | |
Virginia | Enabling, not a mandate — authorizes wearable panic alarms and a state grant fund; each division decides | HB 592 | |
Illinois | Weaker than a mandate — requires schools to consider a mobile panic alert system, not install one; coordination with local 911 required first | HB 5107 (Public Act 104-0789) | https://www.cora-alert.com/illinois |
Tennessee | Weaker than a mandate — requires safety teams to consider including a mobile panic alert system in their annual plan and document that evaluation, not install one | HB 0322 | |
Washington | Not a panic-button mandate — requires districts to adopt at least one of several options (panic button, live video feed, live audio, remote door access, or two-way comms system); real deadline is a progress report, not full implementation | SB 5004 | https://www.cora-alert.com/washington |
Utah | Enacted — exact statutory requirement wording not independently confirmed | HB 84 |
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NOTE: Not every state on this list requires the same thing. Some — New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — mandate a working system in every school by a set date. Virginia only authorizes schools to adopt one and helps fund it, with no requirement to actually do so. Illinois and Tennessee require schools to consider a system as part of emergency planning and document that evaluation — a meaningfully lower bar than a mandate. Washington requires picking one of several options, not a panic button specifically. Check the "what the law requires" column, not just whether a state is on the list, before treating any state as compliance-driven.
FAQ's
Is Alyssa's Law the same in every state?
No. Every state's version requires some form of silent or mobile panic alert capability in schools, but the details vary — some mandate installation by a hard deadline, others only authorize or encourage it. Check the specific state's requirement before assuming compliance is mandatory.
Which states currently require it, not just allow it?
As of this page's last update, New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma have hard mandates with compliance deadlines. Illinois and Tennessee require schools to consider a system, which is weaker than a mandate. Washington requires one of several safety options, not a panic button specifically. Virginia authorizes but does not require one.
Does Cora Alert work in states without a mandate?
Yes. Cora Alert is available in every state regardless of whether a mandate exists — several districts adopt it ahead of a mandate to close a real safety gap, or because their state's law authorizes but doesn't require it.
How is this list kept current?
Legislative sessions add and amend these laws every year. This page is checked and updated periodically — if you're evaluating compliance for a specific district, confirm the current requirement against your state's own statute or department of education.
Do we have to run a competitive bid to purchase Cora Alert?
Not necessarily. Cora Alert is available on TIPS Contract #260105 (Technology Solutions, Products & Services), a purchasing cooperative contract that lets member districts and agencies buy directly, in most cases without a separate RFP. See the full contract details and how to verify your eligibility.