HB592 • 2026

Public schools; wearable panic alarm systems.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.4:1, relating to public schools; wearable panic alarm systems.

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Simonds
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on who pays for the wearable panic alarm systems or whether their provision is mandatory.

Wearable Panic Alarm Systems for School Employees

This law permits Virginia's public schools to give employees wearable devices that can send emergency alerts during dangerous situations.

What This Bill Does

Permits school boards to provide wearable panic alarm systems to their employees in public elementary and secondary schools.
Defines a 'wearable panic alarm system' as a device worn on the body that sends an alert indicating a school security emergency requiring immediate response from local authorities.
Specifies that these alarms notify local 9-1-1 and can also send alerts throughout the school when appropriate.

Who It Names or Affects

Public elementary and secondary schools in Virginia
School board employees

Terms To Know

wearable panic alarm system: A security system capable of being worn on the body that sends an alert indicating a school security emergency requiring immediate response from local authorities.
school security emergency: Includes situations like evacuations, lockdowns, medical emergencies, or active shooter scenarios.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not require school boards to provide these devices.
Does not specify who pays for the wearable panic alarm systems.

Bill History

2026-04-02 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 45 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-02 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0045)
2026-03-10 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-06 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-06 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-06 House
Enrolled
2026-03-06 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB592ER)
2026-03-06 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB592)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-27 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-26 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-19 Public Education
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
2026-02-16 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-16 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-13 House
Read third time and passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-02-12 House
Read second time
2026-02-12 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-12 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-11 Appropriations
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB592)
2026-02-11 House
Read first time
2026-02-09 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB592)
2026-02-09 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-09 Elementary & Secondary Education
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-09 Elementary & Secondary Education
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-09 Appropriations
Committee substitute printed 26107489D-H1
2026-02-04 Elementary & Secondary Education
Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
2026-02-04 Education
Reported from Education and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 3-N)
2026-02-03 K-12 Subcommittee
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)
2026-01-23 K-12 Subcommittee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103594D
2026-01-13 Education
Referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

Alyssa's Law; public schools; wearable panic alarm systems permitted.
Permits any school board to provide any school board employee in a public elementary or secondary school building in the local school division with a wearable panic alarm system, defined in the bill as a security system that is capable of being worn on the body of the user and by which the user manually activates a device that sends (i) a signal to the local 9-1-1 public safety answering point that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response and assistance from such public safety answering point and (ii) a multisensory schoolwide school security emergency notification, when appropriate.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
22.1-79.4:1
, relating to public schools; wearable panic alarm systems.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
22.1-79.4:1
as follows:
§
22.1-79.4:1
. Wearable panic alarm system.
A. As used in this section:
"School security emergency" includes a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, medical emergency, or active shooter situation.
"Wearable panic alarm system" means a security system that is capable of being worn on the body of the user and by which the user manually activates a device that sends (i) a signal to the local 9-1-1 public safety answering point that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response and assistance from such public safety answering point and (ii) a multisensory schoolwide school security emergency notification, when appropriate.
B. Any school board may provide any school board employee in a public elementary and secondary school building in the local school division with a wearable panic alarm system.