Federal shark attack alert law, named for Mountain Brook teen, headed to Trump’s desk

A piece of legislation born from the courage of a Mountain Brook teenager is set to become federal law. Known as Lulu’s Law, the measure is officially headed to the desk of President Donald Trump for his signature.

A New Standard for Beach Safety

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives officially passed S. 1003. This landmark legislation empowers the Federal Communications Commission to issue emergency alerts directly to mobile devices regarding shark attacks, modeled after existing systems like Amber Alerts or severe weather warnings.

The bill is named for Lulu Gribbin, a Mountain Brook student who suffered life-altering injuries in a 2024 shark attack off the Florida coast. Lulu, who endured multiple surgeries and the loss of a hand and leg, was attacked alongside her friend, McCray Faust. The same waters had seen another brutal attack just 90 minutes earlier, involving 45-year-old Virginia resident Elisabeth Foley.

Building on Alabama’s Leadership

This federal milestone follows Alabama's own proactive approach. Last year, the state implemented its own shark alert system, which went live in April to cover Mobile and Baldwin counties. The system is designed to provide immediate warnings in the rare event of an unprovoked shark attack in state waters.

Reflecting on the importance of the bill, Sen. Katie Britt, who introduced the legislation in 2024, expressed pride in the bipartisan effort. “Lulu’s Law will soon be signed into federal statute and as a result, families and beachgoers will be safer,” Britt stated.

Bipartisan Momentum

The legislation moved through Congress with broad support. Following a unanimous vote in the Senate in 2025, the bill garnered cosponsorship from a wide range of lawmakers, including Sens. Brian Schatz, Shelley Moore Capito, Bill Cassidy, Tommy Tuberville, Deb Fischer, Tim Kaine, Pete Ricketts, Raphael Warnock, and Chris Coons.

In the House, the bill was championed by Rep. Gary Palmer, with additional support from Reps. Shomari Figures, Terri Sewell, and Eugene Vindman. As 205focus.com continues to track the impact of this new safety protocol, the focus remains on the resilience of the Gribbin family and the goal of preventing future tragedies through better communication.