Federal shark attack alert law, named for Mountain Brook teen, headed to Trump’s desk
The law allows the Federal Communications Commission to send out emergency alerts if a shark attack occurs.
Mason Reed 
A piece of legislation born from the courage of a Mountain Brook teenager is set to become federal law. Known as “Lulu’s Law,” S. 1003 successfully cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, marking the final hurdle before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk.
A New Standard for Beach Safety
The legislation empowers the Federal Communications Commission to issue emergency mobile alerts for shark attacks, utilizing a system similar to existing storm warnings or Amber Alerts. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who spearheaded the bill's introduction in 2024, expressed pride in the achievement. “After working to get this law passed for over a year, I’m proud we were able to deliver in honor of Lulu’s story,” Britt stated. “Lulu’s Law will soon be signed into federal statute and as a result, families and beachgoers will be safer.”
Rooted in Resilience
The bill is named in honor of Lulu Gribbin, a Mountain Brook native who survived a harrowing shark attack while on the Florida Gulf Coast in 2024. Gribbin, who endured multiple surgeries and life-altering injuries alongside her friend McCray Faust, noted that a prior attack occurred just 90 minutes earlier and only three miles away. “This was really important to me, because 90 minutes prior to my accident... there was another shark attack, and we believe it was the same shark,” Gribbin shared in an interview with ABC News this week. That earlier attack critically injured 45-year-old Virginia resident Elisabeth Foley, as previously reported.
A Bipartisan Effort
The movement for federal action followed Alabama's own legislative progress. Last year, the state’s shark attack alert system officially went live, covering Mobile and Baldwin counties, including Dauphin Island and areas north of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The federal bill moved forward with strong bipartisan backing. Senate co-sponsors included 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 effort was led by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), alongside co-sponsors Reps. Shomari Figures, Terri Sewell, and Eugene Vindman.
