Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB643: AN ACT relating to school safety.
Status: In committee, March 18, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to allow school districts to implement a wearable panic alert system; establish system criteria; require the Department of Education to provide a list of approved wearable panic alert systems; require the Center for School Safety to establish the Wearable Panic Alert Grant Program; amend KRS 158.446 to allow the Center for School Safety to distribute wearable panic alert grants using funds appropriated in the biennial budget to support school safety; provide that the Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
What the bill says
An act relating to school safety.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to school safety. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Each local school district may implement a wearable panic alert system at each school facility. (2) As used in this section "wearable panic alert system" means a silent security system by which the user manually activates a device that sends a nonaudible signal to the local 911 public safety answering point and emergency responder agencies that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response and assistance from the public safety answering point. (3) The wearable panic alert system shall: (a) Connect emergency service technologies to ensure real-time coordination among multiple emergency responder agencies; (b) Integrate with public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit calls and mobile activations; and (c) Be capable of initiating a campuswide lockdown notification. (4) The department shall provide a list of approved wearable panic alert systems. At a minimum, an approved system shall: (a) Alert designated school personnel by smartphone application, phone call, text message, or other technology when an emergency response is initiated on-site using the mobile panic alert system; (b) Provide emergency responders with the location and movements of the activator of the wearable panic alert system in order …
Sponsors
- Kevin Jackson (R, HD-020) · primary sponsor
- Chad Aull (D, HD-079)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Daniel Fister (R, HD-056)
- Daniel Grossberg (D, HD-030)
- David Hale (R, HD-074)
- Scott Lewis (R, HD-014)
- Shawn McPherson (R, HD-022)
- T.J. Roberts (R, HD-066)
- Timmy Truett (R, HD-089)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 93-0
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : floor amendment (1) filed
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 270 (March 17, 2026): 93 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Technology, Short Titles And Popular Names, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, Safety
Common questions
- What is HB643?
- HB643 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to school safety.
- What does HB643 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to school safety.
- What is the status of HB643?
- In committee as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB643?
- Kevin Jackson (R, HD-020), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB643?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb643.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.