Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed “Lulu’s Law”—a piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, which would create a national warning alert system for shark attacks through the Federal Communications Commission.
The law is named for 16-year-old Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who lost her left hand and right leg in a shark attack on a Florida beach last year. The Alabama state Legislature passed its own version of Lulu’s Law during the 2025 Legislative Session, which established a state shark alert system for Baldwin and Mobile counties.
The Senate voted to pass Britt’s legislation unanimously on Tuesday, with the bill garnering bipartisan support. Following the successful vote, Britt took to the Senate floor to celebrate its passage.
“Lulu was on a sandbar in Walton County, Florida, when she was viciously attacked by a shark. The attack was nearly fatal. She lost two-thirds of her blood in her body,” Britt said. “This marked the beginning of a grueling journey, multiple surgeries, and countless hours of physical therapy. Lulu lost her left arm and her right leg, but did not lose her will to fight, to be an inspiration, to be an example to all who knew her.
“She has mastered her golf swing. She is driving a car. She is shooting hoops on the basketball courts. She is surfing, now running. And if you go to her Instagram page… you will see her actually slalom skiing at Lake Martin,” the senator continued. “Like the power of resiliency, faith, and mental fortitude, Lulu’s story is not only incredible, but has given us an opportunity to ensure that it doesn’t happen to anyone ever again.”
Britt said that if the national warning alert system in Lulu’s Law had been in place, Gribbin may have never suffered her life-altering injuries.
“Ninety minutes before Lulu was attacked, a woman from Virginia was attacked just a few miles down the beach,” Britt said. “Had there been an alert system for sharks, Lulu likely would not have been in the water. That is the nexus of Lulu’s Law. The Senate has now unanimously passed Lulu’s Law, legislation I was proud to lead and that Lulu has courageously advocated for for over a year now.”
“Preventing attacks like this is something we can all rally around in honor of Lulu, and to protect future beachgoers and families,” the senator added. “While the Senate passage of this law is certainly cause for celebration, our work is not done. I am hopeful that our House colleagues will quickly take up this piece of legislation and begin to move it through the House, and ultimately to the President’s desk.”
The legislation will now go to the U.S. House of Representatives, where U.S. Representative Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, is sponsoring it.
