Governor Greg Abbott has signed three new bills aimed at improving safety at Texas summer camps and strengthening protections against flooding. The signing took place at the Governor’s Mansion, with several state officials and families in attendance.
The legislation includes House Bill 1, known as the Youth CAMPER Act, Senate Bill 1, called the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, and Senate Bill 3. These measures were developed to address safety concerns for children attending camps and to provide better resources for flood preparedness across the state.
“As camper parents, Cecilia and I know the powerful role that camps can play in the lives of our children,” said Governor Abbott. “We know the anxious anticipation to see your child again after dropping her off at camp. 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. Today we are doing more than just changing campgrounds in Texas, we are changing the future for our children.”
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Senator Charles Perry, Representative Drew Darby, members of the Heaven’s 27 families, and other officials joined Governor Abbott for the bill signing event. Afterward, Governor Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott met privately with families impacted by past camp tragedies.
The Youth CAMPER Act requires youth camps to develop emergency plans each year, train staff on procedures, orient campers about risks such as flooding, notify parents about floodplain dangers with written acknowledgment, and share emergency plans with local authorities. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is tasked with ensuring compliance through inspections and licensing oversight.
The Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act prevents DSHS from licensing youth camps located in FEMA-designated floodplains except under certain conditions. It also mandates annual emergency training for staff and creates a public online registry of licensed youth camps. The law extends safety requirements to include campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
Senate Bill 3 establishes a grant program managed by the Office of the Governor that will help local governments install early-warning sirens in areas susceptible to flash floods.
