By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Beachgoers across the United States will soon receive faster warnings about dangerous shark activity after President Donald Trump signed Lulu’s Law, a bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Katie Britt from Alabama.
The new law directs the Federal Communications Commission to include shark attacks among emergencies that can trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts, allowing state and local officials to send cellphone warnings when waters become unsafe following a shark attack. The legislation was inspired by Alabama Lulu Gribbin, an Alabama shark attack survivor, who lost a hand and part of a leg during a shark attack off Florida’s Gulf Coast in June 2024. Another swimmer had been attacked just 90 minutes earlier a few miles away.
“This bill signing is the result of two years of working around the clock to help ensure we protect beachgoers across our nation,” Britt said after the signing. She credited Gribbin’s courage and advocacy for turning a personal tragedy into a life-saving public safety measure.
Gary Palmer, a U.S. Representative from Alabama, guided the legislation through the House, calling it a “commonsense solution” that will help notify families when dangerous shoreline conditions exist.
The federal measure follows Alabama’s own version of Lulu’s Law, enacted in 2025 to provide shark alerts along the state’s Gulf Coast. Supporters say the national law could prevent future tragedies by giving beach visitors immediate notice to leave the water after an attack.
The legislation marks Britt’s second bill signed into law during the 119th Congress.
Source: The Office of U.S. Senator Katie Britt (ABC 33/40).