Overview
- President Donald Trump signed federal legislation known as 'Lulu’s Law' that classifies a shark attack as an event eligible for emergency cellphone alerts.
- The law requires the Federal Communications Commission to allow such messages under existing alert systems and places operational control with state and local authorities.
- The measure grew from survivor advocacy by Lulu Gribbin, who was badly injured in a 2024 Florida Panhandle attack and said earlier warnings would have kept her out of the water.
- Shark experts note bites are rare, with roughly 60 to 80 unprovoked incidents worldwide each year, and clustered bites usually stem from local factors like bait fish or murky water.
- Next steps include FCC rule changes and state decisions about trigger criteria and messaging; Alabama already has a state-level warning system and survivors and communities are urging broader adoption.