In a pivotal move for Arizona's indigenous communities, Governor Katie Hobbs has enacted HB2281, also known as "Emily's Law," introducing a new alert system designed to aid in the location of missing and endangered indigenous persons. As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix , this legislation was one of 40 bills that Governor Hobbs signed on Tuesday. The law pays tribute to Emily Pike, a 14-year-old San Carlos Apache teen, whose tragic death followed her disappearance from a Mesa group home.

The Turquoise Alert System, as it is known, will function akin to the AMBER Alert but is specifically designed for missing tribal members under the age of 65 or with a developmental disability, Alzheimer's Disease, or dementia. According to the legislators, reporting from ABC15 , the Arizona Department of Public Safety will be required to request the activation of the Emergency Alert System when an authorized law enforcement agency is investigating a report of a missing person.

The bill's namesake, Emily Pike, disappeared in January and was later found killed near Globe, sparking an outcry for better alert systems and support for indigenous communities in such crises. Emily’s mother, Stephanie Dosela, expressed that her daughter is "changing the world." She added , "My scarf is a red scarf, which represents our missing murdered and indigenous people."

Advocates for "Emily's Law" believe it marks a significant step forward. Elisia Manuel, founder of the nonprofit Three Precious Miracles and a foster parent, told ABC15 , "We can only get better if we work together, so I feel like this will be monumental." A legislative hearing is also set to focus on Emily's case and group home protocols on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Arizona Capitol. This comes after some of Pike family members met with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington, D.C. to discuss Emily's story and the wider issues facing indigenous communities.

Moreover, San Carlos Apache Chairman's recent participation in the US Department of the Interior Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, as he shared on Facebook, highlighted the need for additional law enforcement resources and improvements in the handling of evidence and investigations. A $150,000 reward has been established for information regarding Emily's case, a detail highlighted by ABC15 's coverage. However, as of the latest updates, there have been no new developments from the Gila County Sheriff's Office.