Federal legislation points to a more connected school safety model in which emergency alerts, 9-1-1, and response ready maps work together , /PRNewswire/ — As Congress considers bipartisan school safety legislation inspired by Alyssa’s Law, GeoComm is highlighting an important operational connection: an emergency alert is most useful when 9-1-1 professionals and first responders can […]
Federal legislation points to a more connected school safety model in which emergency alerts, 9-1-1, and response ready maps work together
, /PRNewswire/ — As Congress considers bipartisan school safety legislation inspired by Alyssa’s Law, GeoComm is highlighting an important operational connection: an emergency alert is most useful when 9-1-1 professionals and first responders can immediately understand where help is needed.
Two federal proposals currently under consideration address different parts of that challenge:
- The ALYSSA Act, H.R. 1524, would require local educational agencies receiving federal elementary and secondary education funding to ensure each school has at least one silent panic alarm for school security emergencies.
- Alyssa’s Act of 2025, H.R. 6809, would support the development, testing, and evaluation of panic alarm technology while establishing proposed requirements for emergency response maps purchased with federal funding.
Both bills have been introduced and referred to congressional committees. Neither has been enacted into federal law.
H.R. 6809 provides a particularly important connection between emergency notification and location intelligence. Under the proposal, federally funded emergency response maps would need to be created in a digital geospatial format, accessible on mobile devices, shareable with public safety agencies, interoperable with emergency response systems, capable of displaying individual floors, and verified annually for accuracy, among other requirements.
From an Emergency Alert to an Informed Response
A school’s street address may identify the campus, but it may not tell responders which building, floor, room, entrance, or area is involved. That distinction becomes especially important across large or multi-building campuses.
Beyond the proposed federal requirements, location intelligence plays an important operational role in helping schools and public safety agencies prepare for and respond to emergencies. When integrated with emergency communication technology, public safety grade indoor and outdoor maps can help:
- Display an emergency alert or 9-1-1 caller location within the correct campus and building context
- Provide floor-level information in multi-story facilities
- Identify rooms, entrances, access routes, safety equipment, and other relevant features
- Give school personnel, 9-1-1 professionals, and responders access to a shared operating picture
- Keep emergency response information current as facilities change
GeoComm’s role complements panic alert and emergency communication technology by providing the mapping and location foundation that can help turn an alert into actionable information.
“Time equals life during a school emergency. Alyssa’s Law is about making sure help can be summoned immediately, but effective implementation also requires schools, 9-1-1 centers, and responders to plan together,” said Lori Alhadeff, Founder and CEO of Make Our Schools Safe. “Accurate location information can help responders better understand where an emergency is occurring and support a more coordinated response.”
Connecting Federal Policy with Practical Implementation
Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS) has been a leading advocate for Alyssa’s Law and stronger school emergency preparedness nationwide. MOSS’s 2026 Alyssa’s Law Solution Guide also recommends geo-location capabilities that can accurately identify the origin of an alert, including mapped devices associated with known rooms or zones.
GeoComm joined MOSS as a 2026 Annual Partner, bringing together MOSS’s school safety advocacy and GeoComm’s experience delivering public safety grade indoor mapping and location intelligence.
“A panic alert can begin the emergency response, but responders still need to know where to go and what they will encounter,” said Jody Sayre, Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships of GeoComm. “Accurate, accessible, and actively maintained indoor maps can help connect that alert to the building, floor, room, and access information needed for a more informed response. That is how location intelligence supports the larger intent behind Alyssa’s Law.”
Questions Schools and Public Safety Agencies Can Consider Now
Regardless of the outcome of federal legislation, school districts and their public safety partners can evaluate whether their current plans address the full path from emergency notification to response:
- Where does an emergency alert go, and how quickly does it reach 9-1-1 or law enforcement?
- Does the alert provide more information than a campus street address?
- Can telecommunicators and responders identify the correct building, floor, room, or zone?
- Are school maps accessible to the public safety agencies responsible for responding?
- Are maps maintained, securely shared, and tested as part of joint emergency exercises?
- Who is accountable for keeping facility and response information current?
Schools should also review applicable state and local requirements, which may differ from the proposed federal legislation.
To learn more, review the MOSS Alyssa’s Law Solution Guide and explore GeoComm School Safety.
About Make Our Schools Safe
Make Our Schools Safe is a national nonprofit organization founded in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, whose life was tragically taken in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The organization empowers students and staff to help create and maintain a culture of school safety. Its work includes advancing Alyssa’s Law, expanding student-led MOSS Clubs, supporting school safety projects, and amplifying the voices of students, educators, and families. Learn more at makeourschoolssafe.org
About GeoComm
GeoComm provides public safety grade location data and maps that technology partners embed to bring operational context and trusted location intelligence into critical workflows. Through indoor and outdoor mapping, flexible integrations, and actively maintained data, GeoComm helps partners strengthen their platforms with better operational context and shared situational awareness. Together, these capabilities help partners deliver the shared operational picture agencies, organizations, and responders need, supporting faster, more informed decisions across critical operations. Learn more at geocomm.com
SOURCE GeoComm, Inc
