On April 28, 2025, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp signed House Bill 268 aimed at improving emergency response and enhancing school safety across the state. The bill includes “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law,” mandating the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to develop standardized guidelines for panic alert technology and coordinate statewide threat responses.
The law commemorates Richard “Ricky” William Aspinwall, who died in a school shooting in September 2024, and Alyssa Alhadeff, a student who lost her life during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. Laws with similar provisions have already been enacted in several states, including New Jersey and Florida.
“Today, Georgia sends a clear message that we will not wait for another tragedy to act,” said Senator Jason Anavitarte. “By signing HB 268, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure every school has the tools needed to respond in an emergency and protect the lives of students, teachers, and staff.”
The legislation, sponsored in the House by Rep. Holt Persinger, received broad bipartisan support. It requires Georgia’s public schools to implement mobile panic alert systems and provide digital mapping data to first responders. The bill also includes measures for mental health support, suicide prevention, and youth violence reduction.
“Protecting Georgia’s children is a sacred responsibility,” Anavitarte added. “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law honors two lives lost far too soon and turns heartbreak into action.”
HB 268 will become effective on July 1, 2025. Further information can be sought through Sen. Anavitarte’s office.
Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus, representing Georgia’s 31st Senate District. For media inquiries, contact SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
