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Bill

HB 592

Public schools; wearable panic alarm systems.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Holly Seibold and 2 co-sponsors

Virginia bill creates school safety grant program funding wearable panic alarm systems for students and staff emergency response.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0045)
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Bill Summary · HB 592

Legislative bill overview

HB 592 establishes a grant program for Virginia public schools to purchase and implement wearable panic alarm systems for students and staff. The bill aims to provide schools with funding to deploy personal emergency alert devices that can quickly notify authorities during security threats or emergencies without requiring access to phones or fixed alarm stations.

Why is this important

School safety has become a significant policy concern following high-profile incidents of violence on campuses. Wearable panic systems represent one technological approach to reduce response time during emergencies and potentially mitigate harm. The bill directs state resources toward security infrastructure, which affects both school budgets and student/staff sense of safety and security.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and fiscal sustainability: The appropriations referral suggests concerns about program funding levels, ongoing maintenance costs, and whether grant money adequately covers implementation across Virginia's diverse school districts
  • Effectiveness questions: Limited evidence exists on whether wearable systems meaningfully reduce injury rates compared to other security measures, raising questions about return on investment versus alternative safety spending
  • Implementation equity: Disparities in grant distribution could create unequal safety resources between wealthy and under-resourced school districts, potentially widening existing educational inequities
  • Privacy and data concerns: Wearable tracking systems raise questions about student privacy, data collection, and appropriate monitoring boundaries in educational settings

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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