Utah Funds Panic Devices for Public Schools
State grants will help districts equip staff with wearable alert devices ahead of a July 1, 2027 deadline.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Special Education
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Utah's School Safety and Security Task Force authorized up to $19.5 million in December 2025 for safety needs, including wearable panic devices for school staff. Districts that choose one of three state-selected vendors will have costs covered by grants, while districts choosing another vendor will pay themselves.
Why it matters
The devices are intended in part to shorten response times during emergencies, and the state requires them to be operating in all Utah schools by July 1, 2027. A legal dispute over a proposed vendor has already complicated the rollout.
The state authorized up to $19.5 million in December 2025, covering panic devices, bleeding-control kits and other resources, but did not break out the amount for panic devices. For comparison, Lake County, Florida has run panic devices at nearly 50 schools for five years under Florida's 2020 Alyssa's Law.
The players
Utah State Board of Education
The state body that oversees public education in Utah and alleged that a proposed panic device vendor violated the procurement process.
Alyssa's Law
Florida legislation passed in 2020 requiring silent panic alert technology in schools, which has served as a model for similar programs.
The details
The devices hang on a lanyard and signal different recipients depending on how many times the button is clicked. Districts that pick one of the three state-selected vendors have their costs covered by grants, and a proposed vendor was dropped after the Utah State Board of Education alleged it violated the procurement process by issuing a news release before its selection was final.
Timeline
2020: Florida passes Alyssa's Law
December 2025: Utah's task force authorizes up to $19.5 million for safety needs
July 1, 2027: Utah schools must have panic devices operating
Big Picture
Utah's program follows the silent panic alert model Florida set with Alyssa's Law in 2020, with Lake County's nearly five years of use offering a running example of how such devices operate in practice. The state is adding grant funding and a short list of approved vendors on top of that template.
Districts choosing a state-selected vendor will not pay for the devices, while those choosing another vendor will bear the cost. Staff in participating schools will need to carry and learn to use the lanyard-mounted devices before the 2027 deadline.
The takeaway
Parents and staff can ask their local district which vendor it has chosen and whether it will be covered by state grants. Understanding the sign-up path now can help schools meet the 2027 requirement without last-minute costs.
What happens next
Utah schools must have panic devices operating by July 1, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Special Education to see how school safety measures affect students with diverse needs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KJZZ.
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