WA Legislature passes school safety bill

Yahoo

28-03-2025

Mar. 28—"This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of students, educators, and staff. SB 5004 proposes the integration of advanced security measures that will help to save lives and prevent further harm," — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said.
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Legislature has passed Senate Bill 5004, aimed at modernizing emergency response systems in K-12 schools, in a unanimous vote of 98-0 by the House and 49-0 by the Senate. The bill focuses on implementing advanced safety measures, including panic or alert buttons, to improve response times during emergencies. The bill is now making its way to Governor Bob Ferguson for review.
Sponsored by Senator Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, SB 5004 will require school districts to work collaboratively with local law enforcement and emergency responders to establish comprehensive emergency response plans that utilize cutting-edge technology.
The full bill may be read here: bit.ly/SenateBill5004.
The law draws inspiration from Alyssa's Law, named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, according to a statement from Torres.
"Updating emergency response systems is a critical step toward faster, more effective communication in crisis situations," Torres said in a statement. "This legislation reflects our commitment to ensuring our schools are safe places for learning and growth."
Key components of the bill include panic or alert buttons connected to school administration, staff and emergency responders; live audio and video feeds accessible to law enforcement and school districts for real-time assessment; remote door access control which allows for the rapid locking or unlocking of school entrances and interactive two-way communications to enhance coordination and response with first responders.
By Oct. 1, Washington school districts must report its progress in implementing these measures to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which will compile the information and present a report to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2025.
Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said he was in full support of the legislation. He said the tools recommended by the bill provide critical support in crisis situations.
"This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of students, educators, and staff. SB 5004 proposes the integration of advanced security measures that will help to save lives and prevent further harm," Kriete said.
Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis said MLSD is already ahead of the compliance curve, having adopted the Emergent 3 digital mapping and emergency response platform.
"Emergent 3 ensures that law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel have immediate access to building-specific data in the event of an emergency — meeting and exceeding the standards defined by this legislation," Lewis said in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald.
However, Lewis said she supports any effort that enhances school safety across Washington. She said she applauds the legislature for prioritizing student and staff well-being.
Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray said Ephrata used funds from the 2019 bond to increase safety measures. The district added secure vestibules and advanced panic and alert button systems at Columbia Ridge Elementary, Ephrata Middle School and Parkway Intermediate School. The district also upgraded locking doors and camera systems at Ephrata High School. The district is working on adding a secure vestibule at Grant Elementary.
Despite these existing measures, there are concerns regarding funding for necessary upgrades, Murray said.
"While we fully support efforts to strengthen school security, the reality is that meaningful, districtwide improvements require adequate state funding. Without it, many schools will struggle to implement these vital upgrades," Murray wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald.
Murray said the district will continue to enhance safety measures with the anticipated bond in 2026.
"The safety of our students and staff is not just a priority — it's our responsibility. We will continue working closely with law enforcement, state officials, and our community to ensure our schools remain secure, welcoming places where students can thrive," Murray said.
Captain Jeff Sursely from the Moses Lake Police Department said it was vital to have an effective communication system between schools and law enforcement.
"The Moses Lake School District is ahead of the game and already utilizes a system called Emergent 3 for emergency notifications," he said. "The system has worked well and has the full support of the police department."
Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said he happily voted yes on the bill in the House. Dent said there have been several incidents in his district that have been concerning. Dent said the students in Moses Lake in particular need protection after the 1996 school shooting at Frontier Middle School. He also mentioned his son being shot three weeks ago in an "act of random violence." He said these incidents, plus others he didn't list, lead him to voting yes on the legislation.
"I think anything we can do to make our schools safer, protect our children, is a good thing, and it shows it's a good deal," Dent said. "It's moving to some new technology to see what we can do to help keep these schools safe. We're living in an unstable world. We need to be diligent to take care of our young folks, which is the future. Our young people are our future, so let's look out for them."
Senator Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she agrees with Dent. Warnick also voted in favor of the bill in the Senate.
"I fully support this bill," Warnick said. "It will help keep our communities and children safer. I want to thank Senator Torres for sponsoring it."
Warden Police Department Chief Rick Martin, who also sits on the Warden School Board, said SB 5004 is a good piece of legislation.
Martin said the Warden School District already has most of the measures in place including live audio and video feed with around 40 cameras on campus. He also said all the doors in the district remain locked and visitors have specific doors they must enter. Teachers and staff have key cards to their respective buildings to get in. Martin said the district has handheld radios they use in emergencies or during drills.
"I participate in their monthly safety meeting, and they do a really good job of (having) at least one drill every month," Martin said. "They do one drill, whether it be a fire drill, shelter in place, a teach and secure, which means that they don't get to go out on the playground because there's something going on outside the district. They also practice their lockdown procedure, and that's if there's a threat on campus, and then they cover all their windows, they lock doors, and things like that. So, they have several levels of their drills that they do. We work on these drills to make it more efficient."
Martin said he also has concerns about the financial impact on districts. He said he is sure the Warden School District would like to upgrade their existing technology to newer and higher quality equipment; however, funding stands in the way of that. He said he would like to see Washington state supporting this initiative with more financial backing.
According to the bill's fiscal report there is an anticipated $60,000 in 2025 through 2027 going to OSPI for the implementation of this legislation. There are no planned funds after the initial $60,000 though. Costs for the systems required by the bill were not immediately available, but it is likely that more funding will be needed at the local or state level to fully implement the bill's requirements statewide.
Torres noted the bill's historic significance in her statement.
"Today, Washington joins seven other states in the country that have passed Alyssa's Law, setting a standard that children should be safe and thrive in schools," Torres said.
Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa's mother, has been a fervent advocate for school safety measures nationwide since her daughter's death, according to a statement from Torres.
"Our schools should be places of learning and growth, free from the fear of violence or threats. By supporting SB 5004, we are prioritizing the well-being of our children," Kriete said.
WA SB 5004 key requirements: — Panic or alert buttons which are connected to school administration, staff and emergency responders. — Live audio and video feeds which are accessible to law enforcement and school districts for real-time assessment. — Remote door access control which allows for the rapid locking or unlocking of school entrances. — Interactive two-way communications to enhance coordination and response with first responders.