ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are considering new legislation aimed at improving public safety through faster, real-time alerts during active threats.
The proposed "Ya Ya Alert Act“, sponsored by Rep. Rashon Young, would create a mandatory alert system requiring law enforcement to send notifications when a serious threat is within a three-mile radius of schools, childcare facilities, and registered users.
Young says the system is necessary because, in emergencies, every second counts.
“In situations of imminent threats, seconds matter,” Young said, emphasizing the importance of rapid communication when danger is unfolding.
Under SB 814, alerts could be issued in cases where a suspect is on the run, a homicide has occurred, or police determine someone poses a credible threat to public safety. The goal is to ensure schools, parents, and community members are immediately aware and able to take protective action.
The legislation comes as the nation continues to grapple with high-profile acts of violence, including recent mass shooting at Brown University.
Young said the bill is part of a broader effort to address violence and restore a sense of safety in communities. “We are chiseling away at this greater boulder of violence and taking back the responsibility to maintain security in our neighborhoods,” he said. “It starts with legislation like this.”
The Ya Ya Alert Act is named in honor of 9-year-old T’yonna Major, one of three people killed in a 2023 Pine Hills shooting. According to Young, when Major’s mother picked her up from school that day, the suspect was still at large, and no alert system was in place to warn families of the ongoing danger.
“This cannot stop at extending condolences,” Young said. “There has to be action.”
He says the bill prioritizes the health and well-being of children by ensuring safeguards are in place before violence reaches schools or childcare centers.
Young also told News 6 that the bill has received quite a bit of bipartisan support.
If it moves through the legislature without objection, the Ya Ya Alert Act could take effect in late 2026.