TexasState disaster funds would support response, local warnings, and forecasting
The measure would direct state funds to disaster response, local flood-warning equipment, weather forecasting, and, if related safety legislation passes, campground oversight.
What it does
The Office of the Governor would receive $200 million for disaster response, recovery, relief, and matching related federal funds.
The Office of the Governor would set aside $50 million for local governments in 30 named counties to install flood warnings and related equipment.
The Office of the Governor would set aside $28 million for grants to improve weather forecasting, flood management, and the speed of flood warnings.
If related campground and youth-camp safety legislation becomes law, health officials would receive funding and staff authority, with license fees adjusted to recover costs.
Argument forFlood-prone local governments could use grants for warning sirens, gauges, and other equipment that may give residents earlier notice.
Argument againstCampground and youth-camp operators may face higher license fees because the health department must recover the cost of the conditional safety program.
More detail
The Office of the Governor would receive $200 million for disaster response, relief, recovery, and related federal matching funds. The money would go to Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor. The funds must support federal disaster money matching or state disaster needs consistent with listed disaster-fund strategies. The money would be available for two years beginning on the Act's effective date.
The Office of the Governor would make grants to local governments for flood warning sirens, flood gauges, and related equipment. Eligible local governments are in the 30 counties named in the Act and must be addressing the July 4, 2025 heavy-rainfall and flooding disaster declared by the governor. The grants would be provided as directed by the governor's disaster declaration and later amendments. The money would be available for two years beginning on the Act's effective date.
The Office of the Governor would provide disaster-preparedness grants for better weather measurements, forecasting, and flood management. The grants would support atmospheric measurement and modeling, weather forecasting, weather information, and flood-warning improvements. The money would be available for two years beginning on the Act's effective date.
The Department of State Health Services would receive funding and limited staffing authority to carry out campground and youth-camp safety legislation. The provision covers $2,594,265 for two years, $2,484,726 for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2026, up to $500,000 in capital authority, and 16 additional full-time employees. The main appropriations apply only if S.B. 1 or similar campground and youth-camp safety legislation is enacted. The department must adjust license fees as needed to recover the costs of the appropriations. The capital authority and employee authority apply only if the conditional appropriations are available. The two-year funding and possible capital authority begin with the Act's effective date; the additional general-revenue funding applies during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 18Effective immediatelyLatest
- Sep 18Signed by the Governor Greg AbbottBecame Law
- Sep 9Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Sep 4Sent to the Comptroller
- Sep 4Signed in the HouseMajor
- Sep 4Signed in Senate-Art III Sec 49a Tx. Const.
- Sep 4Reported enrolledMinor
- Sep 3Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded adopt the conference committee report on SB 5. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 3Record vote
- Sep 3Senate adopts conference committee reportMinor
- Sep 3Senate adopts resolution to go outside bounds
- Sep 3House adopts conf. comm. report-reported
- Sep 3Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Sep 3Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Sep 3Subject to Art.III Sec.49a Tx. Constitution
- Sep 3Record vote
- Sep 3House adopts conference committee reportMinor
- Sep 3House adopts resolution to go outside bounds
- Sep 3Conference committee report filedMinor
- Sep 3Conf. Comm. Report distributed
- Aug 26House appoints conferees-reported
- Aug 26House grants request for conf comm-reported
- Aug 25House appoints conferees
- Aug 25House grants request for conference committee
- Aug 25Senate appoints conferees-reported
- Aug 25Senate requests conference committee-reported
- Aug 25Senate refuses to concur-reported
- Aug 22Senate appoints conferees
- Aug 22Senate requests conference committee
- Aug 22Senate refuses to concur
- Aug 22Read
- Aug 22House amendment(s) laid before the SenateMinor
- Aug 21House passage as amended reportedMajor
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 21Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Subject to Art.III Sec.49a Tx. Constitution
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21PassedPassed House
- Aug 21Read 3rd timeMinor
- Aug 21Additional sponsor(s) authorized
- Aug 21Rules suspended
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21Passed to 3rd reading
- Aug 21Read 2nd timeMinor
- Aug 21Laid out in lieu of companion
- Aug 21Committee report sent to Calendars
- Aug 21Committee report distributed
- Aug 20Comte report filed with Committee CoordinatorMinor
- Aug 20Reported favorably as substitutedMinor
- Aug 20Committee substitute considered in committeeMajor
- Aug 20Considered in formal meeting
- Aug 20Referred to Disaster Preparedness & FloodingMinor
- Aug 20Read first timeMinor
- Aug 20Received from the SenateMinor
- Aug 18Reported engrossed
- Vote recorded final passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 5 be placed on its third reading and final passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 18Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 18Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 18Record vote
- Aug 18PassedPassed Senate
- Aug 18Read 3rd timeMinor
- Aug 18Record vote
- Aug 18Three day rule suspended
- Aug 18Vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 18Read 2nd time & passed to engrossmentMinor
- Aug 18Rules suspended-Regular order of business
- Aug 18Co-author authorized
- Aug 15Committee report printed and distributed
- Aug 15Reported favorably w/o amendmentsMinor
- Aug 15Vote taken in committee
- Aug 15Considered in public hearing
- Aug 15Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Aug 15Record vote
- Aug 15Posting rule suspended
- Aug 15Referred to FinanceMinor
- Aug 15Read first timeMinor
- Aug 15FiledMinor
- Aug 15Received by the Secretary of the SenateIntroduced
Emergency ManagementPublic SafetyTaxes & Budget