HB 242 — Relating to flood safety and disaster preparedness.

Bill Text

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 418.193, Government Code, Section 141.0093, Health and Safety Code.

• Section 418.193, Government Code

  Sec. 418.193. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS REQUIRED IN FLOOD-RISK ZONES. (a) In this section: (1) "Flood-risk zone" means an area along a river impacted by a flooding event at least once in the preceding 100 years. (2) "Outdoor warning siren" means a system that produces a sound designed to alert a person who is outdoors of an imminent flooding event and encourage the person to immediately seek shelter. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), for each flood-risk zone, the division shall require the appropriate municipality or county to install, maintain, and operate outdoor warning sirens at two-mile intervals near the river in the area classified as a flood-risk zone in accordance with division rules adopted under this section. (c) Each outdoor warning siren must be equipped with: (1) a water-level sensor; and (2) a solar-powered backup energy source. (d) If the site of an outdoor warning siren installation is within: (1) the boundaries of a municipality, the municipality shall install, maintain, and operate the siren; or (2) the unincorporated area of a county, the county shall install, maintain, and operate the siren. (e) The division may not require a local government entity that maintains and operates in a flood-risk zone an outdoor warning siren compliant with the minimum standards adopted by division rule to install, maintain, and operate an additional outdoor warning siren. (f) Municipalities, counties, and other local government entities may by written agreement jointly install, maintain, or operate an outdoor warning siren in a flood-risk zone. (g) The division shall require each county or municipality with an outdoor warning siren required under this section or any other local government entity with an outdoor warning siren in a flood-risk zone to regularly test the functionality of the outdoor warning siren and document the results of those tests. (h) The division shall adopt rules and procedures to implement this section, including: (1) procedures for the operation of an outdoor warning siren in a flood-risk zone; and (2) minimum standards for an outdoor warning siren installed, maintained, or operated in a flood-risk zone.

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• SUBCHAPTER L. STATEWIDE NATURAL DISASTER ALERT SYSTEM Sec. 418.401. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Alert system" means the statewide natural disaster alert system described by this subchapter. (2) "Natural disaster" means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause, including fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, wind, storm, wave action, volcanic activity, blight, drought, infestation, extreme heat, or other natural public calamity requiring emergency action. Sec. 418.402. ESTABLISHMENT OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) The division, with the cooperation of the office of the governor and other agencies as necessary, shall develop and implement a statewide natural disaster alert system to activate in the event of a natural disaster affecting any location in this state. (b) A local government entity that chooses to implement an alert system under this subchapter may use available local money for the purpose of participating in the alert system and may contract with the department for services associated with the alert system. (c) The alert system must be: (1) operated in conjunction with any other emergency alert system required by federal or state law; and (2) designed to notify persons statewide of a natural disaster affecting any location in this state using an alert tone distinct from other statewide alert systems. Sec. 418.403. ACTIVATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) When the division determines a natural disaster has occurred or the occurrence or threat of natural disaster is imminent or is notified of a declaration of disaster under this chapter involving a natural disaster, the division may immediately activate the alert system. A local government entity in coordination with the division may choose the manner in which the alert system is activated and notifications are issued in the entity's geographic region. (b) The division may activate the alert system only within a 100-mile radius of an area in which the division: (1) determines: (A) a natural disaster has occurred; or (B) the occurrence or threat of natural disaster is imminent; or (2) is notified of a declaration of disaster under this chapter involving a natural disaster. (c) The division, or local government entity, as appropriate, may issue updated notifications for the duration of the natural disaster. Sec. 418.404. ALERT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The alert system must use geographic targeting technology to identify and send alerts to individuals residing within a 100-mile radius of the area identified under Section 418.403(b) and may not allow the individuals to opt out of notification through the alert system. Sec. 418.405. RULES. The division shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter.

  amended

• Section 141.0093, Health and Safety Code

  Sec. 141.0093. FLOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. The youth camp operator of a youth camp located within one mile of a river or lake that is at risk of flooding must equip: (1) each cabin with a radio to allow communication during an emergency; and (2) each bed with a flotation device sufficient to keep a camper afloat in the event of a flooding emergency.

  added

Action History

1. July 31, 2025

   Filed

Sponsors

• Cecil Bell · Primary

Subjects