Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed three bills aimed at preventing camp tragedies and improving flood warning systems. The legislation follows mounting pressure for stricter safety standards at youth camps.
The new laws require camps to develop emergency plans, ban construction in flood zones, and fund early-warning sirens. They represent Texas’s most comprehensive camp safety overhaul in decades.
“As camper parents, Cecilia and I know the powerful role that camps can play in the lives of our children,” said Abbott at the signing ceremony. “Every child who goes to camp should come home to their families, and no parent should ever have to outlive their child or endure this kind of loss.”
The Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act prohibits licensing camps with cabins in FEMA-designated floodplains. It also creates an online registry of licensed camps and extends safety standards to RV parks.
Under the Youth CAMPER Act, camps must train staff annually and notify parents of floodplain risks. Parents must sign acknowledgments, and camps must share emergency plans with local services.
The Department of State Health Services gains new enforcement powers. Officials can suspend or deny licenses for non-compliant facilities.
Senate Bill 3 establishes a grant program for flood-prone areas. Cities and counties can apply for funds to install early-warning siren systems.
The laws take effect immediately, with camps required to update emergency procedures before next summer’s season.
