Abbott signs Active Shooter Alert System bill to 'help save lives'

State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) praised the passage of a new "Active Shooter Alert" bill – also known as the Leilah Hernandez Act – which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, May 25.

The legislation, also known as House Bill 103, established a new "Texas Active Shooter Alert System," which is designed to send out timely warnings to the mobile phones of individuals in close proximity to an active shooting. Landgraf was among eight Republicans who sponsored the legislation, which was named after the youngest victim of the August 2019 mass shootings in Midland and Odessa.

"I’m proud of this bill because it will help save lives, empower individuals against would-be killers, and protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding Texans," said Landgraf in a May 25 Facebook post. "Still, my heart is with all of the families of the victims of the Aug. 31, 2019 mass shooting in Odessa-Midland."

The measure drew universal bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, passing both the House and Senate unanimously before making its way to Gov. Abbott's desk.

“I am proud to sign the Leilah Hernandez Act into law, and I thank Rep. Landgraf for championing this legislation,” said Gov. Abbott in a statement. "With the Leilah Hernandez Act, the Lone Star State will now have an Active Shooter Alert System that will notify Texans of violent threats in their communities and help save lives."

The new system is intended to work similarly to the Amber Alert emergency messaging platform that is already in place. In addition to sending out warnings via SMS messaging in the event of an active shooter situation, alerts will also be broadcast through local radio stations and television networks to ensure widespread reach.

“I want to thank everyone who had a hand in the passage of this legislation, especially Leilah's family and other victims and witnesses of the Odessa shooting," Landgraf said. "Now it is time to get the system in place so we can start saving lives."

During hearings at the Texas Capitol, Leilah Hernandez's mother, Joanna Leyva, provided heartbreaking testimony while voicing strong support for the proposed law. She argued that the Active Shooter Alert System could have saved Leilah's life if it had been in place at the time of the tragic Midland-Odessa shootings.

Getting the new system up and running will require a collaborative effort between local law enforcement, the Texas Department of Public Safety, mobile phone service providers, private corporate entities and various other state agencies, according to the text of the bill.

While the Leilah Hernandez Act has been officially signed into law, it will take several months to orchestrate logistics and implement the system. It is scheduled to go into full effect on Sept. 1, 2021.