Kari's Law Reporting Act

Plain-English Summary: Kari's Law Reporting Act

Background: This bill builds on an existing federal law called "Kari's Law," which was passed in 2018. That original law was named after Kari Hunt, a woman who was killed in a hotel room while her daughter tried to call 911 but couldn't get through because the hotel phone system required dialing a "9" first to get an outside line. Kari's Law required multi-line telephone systems — like those used in hotels, offices, and schools — to allow people to dial 911 directly without any prefix.

What This Bill Does: The Kari's Law Reporting Act appears to add a reporting requirement on top of the original law. Based on its title and legislative history, it would likely require relevant companies, agencies, or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on how well the original Kari's Law is being followed and enforced across the country. This could include tracking whether businesses and institutions have updated their phone systems to comply with the direct 911 dialing requirement.

Who It Affects: This bill would primarily affect federal regulators, telecommunications providers, and organizations that operate multi-line phone systems — such as hotels, hospitals, schools, and office buildings. Indirectly, it affects everyday Americans who use these phone systems and need to be confident that dialing 911 in an emergency will work quickly and reliably.

Where It Stands: The bill has passed through a House subcommittee and a full committee review, and has been placed on the House calendar, meaning it is awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives.