TexasYouth camps would follow emergency plans and safety rules
Youth camp operators would follow detailed emergency-plan, communication, internet, and licensing rules, with some duties depending on state rules and scheduled deadlines.
What it does
Youth camp operators would need detailed emergency plans covering evacuations, serious incidents, communications, training, and equipment. Plans would require department approval and yearly updates.
Operators would need separate primary and backup internet services and would have to report certain site changes. Noncompliance could block, suspend, or delay renewal of a camp license.
Camp websites would link to a state complaint system, and each complaint would trigger an investigation and inspection. State agencies would also help develop safety standards and overnight staffing ratios.
Argument forClear emergency plans, drills, alerts, and evacuation routes could help campers and staff respond faster when serious events occur.
Argument againstTwo internet connections, warning systems, training, and plan requirements could raise operating costs for youth camps, especially smaller camps.
More detail
Youth camp operators would create, submit, maintain, and share emergency plans and follow related safety procedures. The rules cover youth camps, their campers, staff, volunteers, parents or guardians, and certain local emergency officials. Plans would need evacuation gathering areas, responses to listed emergencies, camper tracking, communications procedures, and a named preparedness coordinator. Operators would need weather alerts, emergency warning systems, annual staff training, posted and lighted evacuation routes, and yearly plan submissions. The department would approve plans and require a correction and resubmission within 45 days after notice of deficiencies. The department could not waive these requirements, and submitted plans would be confidential. Operators would not have to submit an emergency plan to the Department of State Health Services until April 1, 2026. Other duties would apply on the schedule set by the required rules, including annual submissions and orientations within 48 hours after each camp session begins.
Youth camp operators would maintain two internet connections, report certain camp changes, and meet specified safety requirements to receive or keep a license. The requirements apply to youth camp operators and cover camp activity structures, activity locations, broadband service, emergency plans, and related rules. One internet connection would need end-to-end fiber service, and the second would need to use a separate broadband service. Operators would have to report changes to activity structures or locations in the department's required form. The department could require an emergency-plan update after receiving a modification notice. The department would deny or refuse to renew a license for noncompliance and would suspend a license while violations continued. It could reinstate the license only after determining that the camp and operator complied. The executive commissioner would have to adopt the required emergency-plan rules by January 1, 2026. The emergency-plan submission delay through April 1, 2026 applies to the submission duty, not necessarily to every other requirement.
The department would investigate each youth camp complaint, inspect the camp, and oversee recommendations on safety standards and overnight camper-to-counselor ratios. The oversight covers youth camps, complaints from campers, parents, staff, or volunteers, the department, and representatives from several state agencies. Each camp website would need a clear link for reporting noncompliance to the department. A new team would include representatives from the department and six other listed state agencies and would recommend minimum camp standards. The executive commissioner would set minimum overnight camper-to-counselor ratios by rule after department review and recommendations. The team would not be required to hold its first meeting until September 1, 2026. Complaint investigations would include an inspection after a complaint is filed.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 5Effective immediatelyLatest
- Sep 5Signed by the Governor Greg AbbottBecame Law
- Sep 4Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Sep 4Signed in the SenateMajor
- Sep 4Signed in the HouseMajor
- Sep 4Reported enrolledMinor
- Sep 4Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
- Sep 3House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
- Vote recorded final passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded concur in the senate amendments to HB 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 1 be placed on its third reading and final passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 3Text of Senate Amendment(s)
- Sep 3Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Sep 3Record vote
- Sep 3House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
- Sep 3Senate Amendments distributed
- Sep 3Senate passage as amended reportedMajor
- Sep 3Record vote
- Sep 3PassedPassed Senate
- Sep 3Read 3rd timeMinor
- Sep 3Record vote
- Sep 3Three day rule suspended
- Sep 3Vote recorded in Journal
- Sep 3Passed to 3rd reading as amendedMajor
- Sep 3Vote recorded in Journal
- Sep 3AmendedMajor
- Sep 3Amendment(s) offeredMinor
- Sep 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Sep 3Rules suspended-Regular order of business
- Sep 3Co-sponsor authorized
- Sep 2Committee report printed and distributed
- Sep 2Reported favorably as substitutedMinor
- Sep 2Vote taken in committee
- Sep 2Testimony taken in committee
- Sep 2Considered in public hearing
- Sep 2Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Sep 2Ordered not printed
- Sep 2Posting rule suspended
- Sep 2Co-sponsor authorized
- Aug 27Meeting cancelled
- Aug 27Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Aug 26Posting rule suspended
- Aug 22Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, SelectMinor
- Aug 22Read first timeMinor
- Aug 21Received from the HouseMinor
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded adoption of amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 21Reported engrossed
- Aug 21Subject to Art.III Sec.49a Tx. Constitution
- Aug 21Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21PassedPassed House
- Aug 21Read 3rd timeMinor
- Aug 21Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21Passed to engrossment as amendedMajor
- Aug 21Amendment adopted as amendedMajor
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21Amendment to amendment fails of adoptionMinor
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21Amendment amendedMinor
- Aug 21Reason for vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Aug 21Record vote
- Aug 21Amendment amendedMinor
- Aug 21Amendment amendedMinor
- Aug 21Amendment amendedMinor
- Aug 21Amendment amendedMinor
- Aug 21Amendment(s) offeredMinor
- Aug 21Read 2nd timeMinor
- Aug 21Placed on Major State Calendar
- Aug 20Considered in Calendars
- Aug 19Committee report sent to Calendars
- Aug 18Committee report distributed
- Aug 18Comte report filed with Committee CoordinatorMinor
- Aug 18Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)Minor
- Aug 18Considered in formal meeting
- Aug 18Referred to Disaster Preparedness & FloodingMinor
- Aug 18Read first timeMinor
- Aug 15FiledIntroduced
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