Texas enacts stricter camper safety laws after deadly Camp Mystic floods
Three bills signed by Gov. Greg Abbott require emergency plans, evacuation training, licensing upgrades and flood-warning measures after July flash floods that killed dozens in the Hill Country
Texas on Friday enacted a package of camper safety laws aimed at preventing tragedies like the catastrophic flash floods that killed 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic and contributed to a statewide death toll of more than 130 people this summer.
Governor Greg Abbott signed three bills during a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion alongside Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, bill authors and relatives of the victims. The measures impose stricter safety and emergency-preparedness requirements on youth camps across the state, including new mandates for emergency planning, camp licensing and flood-warning systems.
House Bill 1, called the Youth CAMPER Act, requires camps to develop and annually update emergency response plans, provide evacuation training for staff and campers, and establish systems to notify parents in the event of an emergency, according to language accompanying the bill. The other two bills expand licensing standards for youth camps and direct state agencies to install or improve flood-warning infrastructure in vulnerable areas.
"Every child who goes to camp should come home to their families," Abbott said at the signing. "No parent should ever have to outlive their child or endure this kind of loss." Families of the Camp Mystic victims attended the event.
State officials said the legislation responds to a rapid review of the July flash flooding that struck the Texas Hill Country, where record-breaking rainfall produced sudden rises in creeks and rivers that caught campers and residents off guard. The Camp Mystic site on the Guadalupe River was inundated on July 4 after heavy rain upstream, leading to the deadliest single-site loss of life in the disaster.
Lawmakers and emergency management officials have cited gaps in preparedness and warning reaching camps as part of the rationale for new rules. Advocates for the legislation said annual plan updates and required evacuation drills will help camp staff recognize risks and respond more quickly if extreme weather events occur. The licensing changes are intended to give state regulators clearer authority to inspect camps and enforce safety standards.
The bills also require state agencies to assess and enhance flood-warning systems in areas identified as at high risk for flash flooding. Officials said the measures could include additional stream gauges, automated alerts or improved communications links between state weather authorities and local emergency responders, though the legislation leaves specifics and funding levels to follow-up rulemaking and budgeting.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of preparedness for extreme weather events in regions that have experienced increasingly intense rainfall. State and local officials have debated how to balance public safety regulations with the operational realities of summer camps, which often operate in remote or riverine settings.
Local emergency managers warned that while new rules can strengthen readiness, effective flood response also depends on timely forecasts, clear evacuation routes, and coordination among weather services, search-and-rescue teams and camp operators. The Department of State Health Services and the Texas Department of Emergency Management will play roles in implementing the new requirements, officials said.
Families of those killed at Camp Mystic have called for stronger safeguards since July, and lawmakers said the legislation reflects months of briefings, field visits and consultations with camp operators, rescuers and the affected communities. The state has not yet released a comprehensive after-action report detailing the flood response; officials said such reviews will inform future regulatory and infrastructure steps.
The bills take effect according to the timelines specified in the legislation, which include immediate requirements for emergency-plan development and phased implementation for some licensing and infrastructure provisions. State officials said they will work with camps and local authorities to provide guidance on compliance and to help secure resources where needed.