2026 Regular Session - Day 48 - HB 643 | Rep. Kevin Jackson
Mar 17, 2026
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 643 is also known as Alyssa's Law.
Alyssa was a 14-year-old freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,
who lost her life along with 16 other students and staff due to an active shooter on Valentine's Day of 2018.
Alyssa's mother has made this her life's mission to help prevent other such horrendous acts.
This bill allows school districts to implement a wearable panic alert system
to help increase school safety and security for students, faculty, and staff.
Each school campus would be dynamically mapped, and when a panic alert signal was sent,
it would go straight to the front office, school nurse, and, if needed, the local law enforcement and EMS.
The bill states, as funding is available, it would set up a 50-50 matching grant program through the Center of School Safety.
This program would allow another tool providing school safety across the state,
but it would not take the place of school resource officers.
They will always be our first line of defense in our schools.
Mr. Speaker, if there are no questions, I ask for passage of House Bill 643.