It was almost one year ago that Governor Kay Ivey put her support behind a new bill named "Lulu's Law", after the shark bite victim  Lulu Gribbin. The new law called for a shark attack notification system to be available to Alabama beachgoers.

The legislation establishes a notification system that will send alerts to cell phones when a shark attack occurs in coastal waters, providing critical real-time information to the public.

“This bill will help prevent future attacks,” Gribbin stated while advocating for the legislation last month. “It’s like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.”

The newly established system will function similarly to other emergency notification systems, sending alerts to mobile devices when an attack has occurred in coastal waters. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will develop specific rules for implementing the system.

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An earlier version of the bill would have allowed alerts for “imminent danger” when sharks were spotted near shorelines. However, since sharks are commonly found in Gulf waters, coastal communities expressed concern that such provisions would lead to excessive alerts, potentially causing unwarranted panic and negatively impacting tourism.

The finalized version focuses specifically on confirmed attacks, striking a balance between public safety and avoiding unnecessary alarm.

“Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world,” Governor Ivey said in a statement. “The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America.”