What to know about 'Lulu's Law' requiring emergency shark attack notifications
A new bill that would create an Amber Alert-type notification system to warn beachgoers of shark attacks is one step closer to becoming law.
The legislation, "Lulu's Law," is headed to President Donald Trump's desk after passing both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, which approved the bill on Wednesday.
The legislation is spearheaded by 17-year-old shark attack survivor Lulu Gribbin and is aimed at saving lives ahead of the summer beach season.
"This was really important to me, because 90 minutes prior to my accident, only three miles down the coast, there was another shark attack, and we believe it was the same shark [that attacked me]," Lulu said in an interview with ABC News this week, suggesting a widespread notification might have potentially prevented her attack in the first place.
Lulu was 15 years old and on a family trip to a Florida beach in 2024 when a shark bit her, causing her to lose her left hand and right leg -- and nearly her life.
She recounted the harrowing event in an interview with ABC News in September 2025.
"The next thing I know is that I raised my hand out of the water, and there just was no hand there," she said at the time.
After multiple surgeries, doctors saved her life but had to amputate part of her right leg between the knee and hip.
How 'Lulu's Law' would work
"Lulu's Law" would require the Federal Communications Commission to send out a wireless emergency alert to cellphones in the event of a shark attack, according to the bill's text.
The alert system uses geolocation services to identify cellphones within a certain radius of an emergency and sends a warning notification to all WEA-enabled mobile devices in that zone, according to the FCC. This system is also used during severe weather events, natural disasters, or when authorities need to issue Amber Alert notifications in the event of a missing child, the agency's website states.
Once "Lulu's Law" is signed into law by the president, the FCC will be required to take action within 180 days, according to the legislation.
Research suggests that rising ocean temperatures and climate change could be causing some shark species to move into cooler waters earlier in the season than before.
Officials confirmed the first great white shark sighting of the season in New England last week, off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, as reported by ABC News Boston affiliate WCVB.
Scientists at the New England Aquarium issued a warning on May 13, urging the public to remain vigilant and report any shark sightings through the proper channels.
The National Park Service recommends these shark safety tips:
- Be aware sharks hunt for seals in shallow water.
- Stay close to shore where rescuers can reach you.
- Don't isolate yourself. Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups.
- Avoid areas where seals are present.
- Avoid areas where schools of fish are visible.
- Avoid murky or low-visibility water.
- Limit splashing.
- Follow all signage and flag warnings at beaches and instructions of the lifeguards.
The NPS advises the public to report any shark sightings to a lifeguard, if one is present, or to alert a local authority.
