President Donald Trump signed Britt’s Lulu’s Law on Friday, capping a two-year effort to warn beachgoers when a shark attack makes the water unsafe.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) authored the legislation, S. 1003, which codifies shark attacks as events for which the Federal Communications Commission will transmit warnings through Wireless Emergency Alerts. The Senate passed the bill unanimously last July, and the House followed with overwhelming support.
“This bill signing is the result of two years of working around the clock to help ensure we protect beachgoers across our nation,” Britt said. “The timing of this law couldn’t be better as countless Americans are enjoying our nation’s beaches this summer.”
The law is named for Lulu Gribbin, who was attacked by a shark and nearly killed off the Alabama coast on June 7, 2024. Just 90 minutes earlier and a few miles away, Elizabeth Foley was also attacked. A more recent attack in St. Andrews Bay left a man in critical condition, underscoring the gap the new alert system aims to close.
Alabama lawmakers passed a similar measure at the state level in 2025, extending the warning concept to Alabama beaches ahead of the federal action.
Britt credited Gribbin for turning her injury into advocacy.
“We would not be here today without Lulu’s courage, perseverance, and advocacy to protect future beachgoers,” Britt said. “She conquered an insurmountable challenge head-on, choosing to advocate for a worthy cause. Because of her strength, lives will be changed. We should all be inspired by her.”
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Lulu’s parents, Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin, said their daughter set out to spare other families what theirs went through.
“Ever since that fateful day at the beach, our daughter Lulu has worked to spare other families from going through what we experienced, or worse. We feel so lucky that Lulu is here, and we couldn’t be prouder of her for using her platform in such an impactful way,” they said. “This is a commonsense law that makes everyone safer, and it passed with incredible bi-partisan support because nearly every elected representative came together to protect families at the beach. We’re grateful to Senator Britt and Representative Palmer, who rallied their colleagues in support of this bill.”
Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), who carried the legislation through the House, praised the effort.
“Over the last two years, Lulu Gribbin has shown tremendous strength, and her story has inspired the entire nation,” Palmer said today.
“Lulu’s Law is a commonsense solution to protect beachgoers from harm’s way by implementing wireless emergency alerts to notify the public when dangerous conditions are present along the shoreline. President Trump signing this bill is the culmination of Senator Britt’s leadership and Lulu’s desire to help others. I was honored to play a role in getting this legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact Lulu’s Law, and Lulu herself, will make in the future.”
The bill marks Britt’s second signed into law, following her Laken Riley Act, the first bill Trump signed as President. She is one of just nine members of Congress to have multiple bills signed into law during the 119th Congress.
U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) carried the legislation through the House.
Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
