The Senate Committee on Education convened on April 30, 2025, to discuss House Bill 3883, known as Alyssa's Law, aimed at enhancing school safety through the implementation of panic alarm systems. The meeting featured testimony from key advocates, including State Representative Emerson Levy and Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was a victim of the Parkland shooting.

Representative Levy introduced the bill, emphasizing the need for schools to adopt panic alarm systems that can connect directly to emergency services. The proposed system would allow teachers and staff to alert authorities quickly during emergencies, significantly reducing response times. Levy highlighted the importance of the first 30 seconds during a crisis, noting that many past incidents have shown that communication failures can lead to tragic outcomes.

The bill proposes a grant program that provides $2,000 per school to implement these systems, which can be either wearable devices or applications on teachers' phones. Levy expressed frustration over the slow uptake of the grant program, despite its non-mandatory nature, and indicated a willingness to adapt the program to better meet schools' needs.

Lori Alhadeff, representing the advocacy group Make Our Schools Safe, shared her personal story and underscored the urgency of the bill. She stated that timely alerts could save lives, advocating for a layered approach to school safety that includes the proposed panic alarm systems. Alhadeff urged the committee to act swiftly to prevent future tragedies.

The committee also heard from Chris Pavaceras of Motorola Solutions, who explained the technical aspects of the panic button program. He noted that the system not only alerts 911 but also facilitates real-time communication among school staff and first responders, enhancing overall safety protocols.

Committee members engaged in discussions about the practicality of the systems, including concerns about cell phone usage in schools and the training of first responders to effectively utilize the new technology. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of advancing the bill to improve safety measures in Oregon schools.

Overall, the session highlighted a collective commitment to enhancing school safety through innovative technology and proactive measures, with hopes that Oregon will join other states in adopting similar legislation.