All Roll Calls
Yes: 18 • No: 0
TexasHB 189th Legislature 2nd Called SessionHouse
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties.
Sponsored By: Drew Darby, Mano DeAyala, Ken King, John McQueeney, Morgan Meyer, Charles Perry (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Disaster Preparedness & ReliefGovernorMinors--Health & SafetySafetyState Finances--Management & ControlWater--DevelopmentYOUTH CAMP ALERT, MITIGATION, PREPAREDNESS, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (YOUTH CAMPER) ACTALERT SYSTEMFLOODSYOUTH CAMPSTEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICEEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TEXAS DIVISION OFHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONINSURANCE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OFPARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENTPUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OFSTATE HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OFWATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Campers and staff get emergency instruction
Camp staff must give every camper a safety orientation within 48 hours after each session starts. It must cover boundaries, hazards, expected behavior, and age-appropriate emergency steps that follow the camp plan and campground safety requirements. At least yearly, operators must give staff and volunteers the current plan and ensure they successfully finish emergency training. Training must meet state standards and required hours, and operators must keep written completion records. Camps must clearly post evacuation routes in every cabin and light all camp evacuation routes at night.
Texas sets new camp safety standards
The law creates a state youth camp safety team to meet regularly and recommend minimum safety standards. It includes health officials, emergency management, the State Fire Marshal's Office, Parks and Wildlife, the Water Development Board, the Texas A&M Forest Service, and public safety officials. The commissioner or a designee chairs the team; its first meeting is not required before September 1, 2026. The state health department must review overnight camper-to-counselor ratios, and the executive commissioner must set minimum ratios by rule. The executive commissioner must also apply campground safety requirements to youth camps by rule; the supplied provisions set no specific staffing ratio.
Youth camps must update emergency plans
Texas youth camps must write emergency plans, update them yearly, certify they are in place, and submit them for state approval. Plans must name gathering areas and an emergency coordinator, explain how to account for campers, and set communication and notification steps. They must cover lost campers, fires, severe injuries, illness, deaths, epidemics, unauthorized people, transportation emergencies, and other disasters. Camps near water must also plan for water emergencies. Required state rules are due January 1, 2026; camps need not submit plans until April 1, 2026. Camps must fix and resubmit deficient plans within 45 days after notice, attach updates to license renewals, and share approved plans with county emergency officials and municipal officials where applicable within 10 business days after approval. Camps must also report changes to activity structures or locations; the state may require a plan update.
Camp complaints trigger checks and enforcement
Camp websites must clearly link to the state's complaint page; the state must investigate every complaint, including inspections checking compliance and emergency-plan use. The state cannot issue or renew licenses for violations of emergency-plan or backup-internet rules and must suspend licenses for violations. It can restore a license only after confirming that the camp and operator comply, which can limit access to noncompliant camps. Licenses renew annually on a date set by rule; camps must also apply within 30 days after boundary changes, completed new cabins, or completed cabin renovations changing beds or entrances and exits. The state cannot waive emergency-plan requirements or the related campground safety requirements.
Camps need alerts and backup internet
Youth camps must keep a working radio for real-time weather alerts and an emergency warning system that alerts camp occupants. The warning system must include a public address system that works without internet. Operators must monitor required weather and local alerts, including river authority alerts where applicable, and certify compliance. Camps must also maintain end-to-end fiber internet and a separate backup broadband service distinct from the primary service. These requirements improve emergency readiness but add equipment and service duties for operators; the law sets no camp-fee increase.
Parents get camp plans and flood notices
Camps must give their latest submitted emergency plan to parents or guardians of current campers and children registered for future sessions. If any camp area is in a floodplain, camps must notify those families and obtain a signed acknowledgment. The state health department must store submitted plans in a digital database. It must give access to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and every member of the youth camp safety team. Plans held or accessed by covered government offices are confidential and cannot be obtained through public-records requests.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Drew Darby
House
Mano DeAyala
House
Ken King
House
John McQueeney
House
Morgan Meyer
House
Charles Perry
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Daniel Alders
House
Alma A. Allen
House
Rafael Anchía
House
Trent Ashby
House
Jeff Barry
House
Cecil Bell Jr.
House
Keith Bell
House
Diego M. Bernal
House
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Salman Bhojani
House
César Blanco
Democratic • Senate
Greg Bonnen
House
Brad Buckley
House
John H. Bucy lll
House
Benjamin Bumgarner
House
Angie Chen Button
House
Briscoe Cain
House
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
Terry Canales
House
Giovanni Capriglione
House
Sheryl Cole
House
David Cook
House
Philip Cortez
House
Tom Craddick
House
Charles Cunningham
House
Pat Curry
House
Yvonne Davis
House
Jay Dean
House
Paul Dyson
House
Lulu Flores
House
James Frank
House
Cassandra Garcia Hernandez
House
Linda Garcia
House
Stan Gerdes
House
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
House
Jessica González
House
Mary E. González
House
Vikki Goodwin
House
Ryan Guillen
House
Erin Gámez
House
Brent Hagenbuch
Republican • Senate
Bob Hall
Republican • Senate
Sam Harless
House
Cody Harris
House
Caroline Harris Davila
House
Richard Hayes
House
Cole Hefner
House
Ana Hernandez
House
Hillary Hickland
House
Gina Hinojosa
House
Adam Hinojosa
Republican • Senate
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Democratic • Senate
Janis Holt
House
Andy Hopper
House
Donna Howard
House
Joan Huffman
Republican • Senate
Lacey Hull
House
Todd Hunter
House
Ann Johnson
House
Helen Kerwin
House
Stan Kitzman
House
Lois Kolkhorst
Republican • Senate
Marc LaHood
House
Suleman Lalani
House
Stan Lambert
House
Brooks Landgraf
House
Jeff Leach
House
Terri Leo Wilson
House
Janie Lopez
House
Ray Lopez
House
AJ Louderback
House
David Lowe
House
J. M. Lozano
House
John Lujan
House
Shelley Luther
House
Christian Manuel
House
Don McLaughlin
House
Will Metcalf
House
Terry Meza
House
Mayes Middleton
Republican • Senate
Brent Money
House
Joe Moody
House
Penny Morales Shaw
House
Eddie Morales
House
Matt Morgan
House
Sergio Muñoz Jr.
House
Candy Noble
House
Tom Oliverson
House
Angelia Orr
House
Jared Patterson
House
Dennis Paul
House
Angela Paxton
Republican • Senate
Mary Ann Perez
House
Dade Phelan
House
Katrina Pierson
House
Mihaela Plesa
House
Richard Peña Raymond
House
Ron Reynolds
House
Keresa Richardson
House
Ramon Romero Jr.
House
Toni Rose
House
Jon E. Rosenthal
House
Schatzline
Affiliation unavailable
Alan Schoolcraft
House
Matt Shaheen
House
Joanne Shofner
House
John T. Smithee
House
Kevin Sparks
Republican • Senate
David Spiller
House
Valoree Swanson
House
Senfronia Thompson
House
Tony Tinderholt
House
Steve Toth
House
Chris Turner
House
VanDeaver
Affiliation unavailable
Cody Vasut
House
Denise Villalobos
House
Armando Walle
House
Royce West
Democratic • Senate
Trey Wharton
House
Terry M. Wilson
House
Gene Wu
House
Judith Zaffirini
Democratic • Senate
Erin Zwiener
House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/3/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 9/3/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 9/3/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 8/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 8/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 8/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 8/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 8/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective immediately
9/5/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
9/5/2025HouseSent to the Governor
9/4/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
9/4/2025SenateSigned in the House
9/4/2025HouseReported enrolled
9/4/2025HouseSenate Amendments Analysis distributed
9/4/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
9/3/2025SenateText of Senate Amendment(s)
9/3/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
9/3/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#166)
9/3/2025HouseHouse concurs in Senate amendment(s)
9/3/2025HouseSenate Amendments distributed
9/3/2025HouseSenate passage as amended reported
9/3/2025HouseRecord vote
9/3/2025SenatePassed
9/3/2025SenateRead 3rd time
9/3/2025SenateRecord vote
9/3/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
9/3/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
9/3/2025SenatePassed to 3rd reading as amended
9/3/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
9/3/2025SenateAmended
9/3/2025SenateAmendment(s) offered (FA1 Perry)
9/3/2025SenateRead 2nd time
9/3/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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