Hastings on Illinois advancing Alyssa’s Law: ‘School Safety Isn’t abstract — it’s personal’

RICHTON PARK — State Senator Michael E. Hastings joined Mayor Rick Reinbold and other local officials, educators and advocates on Friday August 14, 2026, at Richton Square School to highlight the recent signing of Alyssa’s Law, legislation Hastings co-authored to strengthen school emergency response across Illinois.

“As a dad, school safety isn’t abstract to me, it’s personal,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort).

“Every morning I drop my children off at school and every afternoon I pick them up. Like every parent, I’m placing a quiet kind of trust in the people who care for them during the day. That trust is sacred.”

House Bill 5107, known as Alyssa’s Law, was signed into law last week.

State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon — State Senator Michael Hastings

The measure requires every public school district and private school in Illinois to consider the use of a mobile panic alert system, known as Alyssa’s Alert, when developing their emergency and crisis response plans by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year.

The systems allow school staff to instantly notify first responders, improve response times and coordination, and integrate with existing 911 infrastructure.

The legislation passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly. Illinois is now among the states leading the way on this critical school safety measure. Hastings authored the bill with State Representative Nabeela Syed and a bipartisan group of co-sponsors.

“We sometimes tell ourselves that something like a school shooting can’t happen here, until it does,” said Hastings. “In 2023, after a homecoming football game at Hillcrest High School, just a few miles from here, a 14-year-old student lost his life to gun violence outside the school. That tragedy reminded all of us in the south suburbs that no community is immune. It is exactly why we cannot wait. We have to prepare.”

Hastings praised local leadership at the event, including Mayor Rick Reinbold of Richton Park and Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, superintendent of Matteson School District 162.

“Matteson School District 162 is an elite school district in the south suburbs, run by the best superintendent in Illinois,” said Hastings. “Her record speaks for itself. When good people lead with care and high standards, kids feel it, and they are safer because of it.”

The press conference also featured remarks from Lori Alhadeff, co-founder and CEO of Make Our Schools Safe and mother of Alyssa Alhadeff, for whom the law is named. Alyssa was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

“Lori, you should be so proud,” said Hastings. “Somewhere, Alyssa is looking down on her mother and saying how proud she is of you, of the work you have done, of the children you are protecting, and of the hope you continue to give so many families. Your mission is saving lives, and because of your courage and your refusal to give up, kids across Illinois and across this country are safer today. That is something worth believing in.”

Alyssa’s law takes effect Jan. 1.

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