Lawmaker pushes to bring ‘Alyssa’s Law’ to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A Lexington state representative has announced plans to file "Alyssa's Law" during the 2025 general assembly. The bill would aim to enhance school safety by installing silent panic alarms that can directly alert law enforcement during emergencies.

Rep. Chad Aull from Lexington says his plan to bring Alyssa's Law to the commonwealth started as a constituent's suggestion.

"She was actually originally from Paducah and was a survivor of one of the original school shooting incidents," said Rep. Aull, referencing the Heath High School shooting in 1997.

The law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a New Jersey native who was one of 14 students killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

"It really would require schools to have some type of technology in place to automatically alert law enforcement communities when there's a time of crisis happening at the school," Rep. Aull said.

It's been passed in several states, including Florida and New Jersey. Here in Kentucky, Meade County schools became the first to use a wearable technology of its kind this year.

"When you push this button, it not only goes to dispatch immediately, it goes to my phone, and it goes to other police officer's phones," said Meade Co. Sheriff Phillip Wimpee.

Rep. Aull says this technology could be transformative for law enforcement response times right here in central Kentucky. The region has faced a number of recent school threats, which Aull noted can hit close to home for anyone.

"As a parent, when you get that call that something's happened at your kid's school, your heart sinks," said Rep. Aull.

Aull had that sinking feeling in October of 2022 while his daughter attended Henry Clay High School.

"We had an incident where somebody actually brought a gun into the school," Rep. Aull said.

So, he's asking for $10 million in state funding to match the monies that school districts put towards the tech, and he says the proposal is already earning bi-partisan support.

"There's interest because it makes sense. We're talking about saving kids' lives," said Rep. Aull.

The Kentucky Education Association (KEA) also voiced its support in a statement about the legislation, which reads: "The Kentucky Education Association advocates for safe schools and supports legislation that serves to provide our students and teachers a safer environment in which to learn and teach. Representative Aull is a strong supporter of public schools, and we look forward to working with him next legislative session to discuss and consider his proposed legislation."

The 2025 Kentucky General Assembly first convenes on Tuesday, January 7.