A bill filed in the aftermath of the devastating July 4 Texas Hill Country floods which aims to install outdoor warning sirens in areas with a history of flash flooding has passed the Texas Senate.
11 August 2025, Saxony, Ehrenfriedersdorf: A view of an elementary school classroom on the first day of school after the summer vacation. A new school year began on the same day for around 534,000 pupils in Saxony.
This includes around 37,000 first graders. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa 2 hours ago ‘It’s not working’: Some Houston ISD parents frustrated after issues logging into new district communication app Read full article: ‘It’s not working’: Some Houston ISD parents frustrated after issues logging into new district communication app‘I’d rather live in a shelter’: Residents at Houston apartment complex plead for help amid unsafe living conditions Read full article: ‘I’d rather live in a shelter’: Residents at Houston apartment complex plead for help amid unsafe living conditionsCrews work to clear debris from the Cade Loop bridge along the Guadalupe River on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. – A bill filed after the devastating July 4 Texas Hill Country floods, which aims to install outdoor warning sirens in areas with a history of flash flooding, has passed the Texas Senate. Senate Bill 2, filed by Houston-area State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, passed the Texas Senate in a unanimous 29-0 vote Tuesday. Mystery boom: Kingwood residents report ‘homes shaking’ following explosion-like noise in Atascocita area The bill had been designated a priority bill by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the special session. Bettencourt says it aims to address a critical public safety gap in Central Texas’ “Flash Flood Alley” where riverside youth camps, RV parks, and recreational areas are highly vulnerable to flash flooding, often lacking reliable cellular service for emergency alerts.Risk Identification — Requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify areas with a history of severe flooding, including locations with prior fatalities, dense residential or recreational activity, and other risk factors. Local Implementation — Directs counties and municipalities, based on jurisdiction, to install, operate, and maintain outdoor flood sirens under TWDB rules. Grant Program — Establishes a state-funded grant program, appropriated through Senate Bill 3, to assist with installation and maintenance costs. Administered by the Office of the Governor, with flexibility for agency delegation to streamline implementation.Initial cost estimates developed in coordination with the Lower Colorado River Authority project a $50 million capital investment to install sirens in priority zones“Testimony after testimony confirms, flood warning sirens are proven, effective, and can save lives immediately.” Senator Bettencourt concluded. “By getting folks to higher ground, an opinion stated by Senator Perry in his unanimous passage of SB 1 today.”Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up. He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing.
Senate Bill 2 Texas Legislature Hill Country Floods Austin
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Senate panel advances THC ban, one month after Abbott vetoed similar billA Texas Senate panel advanced a new version of a THC ban to the full Senate on after a 7-hour hearing.
Read more »
Texas lawmakers reignite debate over THC ban with Senate Bill 5A newly introduced bill in Texas is reigniting concerns over the future of hemp-derived products. During a special legislative session, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 5, a proposed law that would ban any detectable amount of THC, and regulate other cannabinoids.
Read more »
Lawmakers try again to ban THC as Texas Senate passes prohibition billGov. Greg Abbott vetoed a similar ban in June, saying the bill that passed during the regular session threatened the state’s agricultural industry and ran...
Read more »
Texas Senate advances bill to ban THC — againThe Senate’s decision signals another potential standoff with Gov. Greg Abbott, who vetoed a similar ban earlier this year as he called for more regulations instead.
Read more »
Texas Senate passes THC ban, bill now heads to Texas HouseThe Texas Senate has once again passed a bill that would enact a full ban on THC in hemp-derived consumables, setting up a potential showdown with Gov. Greg Abbott, who previously vetoed a similar measure.
Read more »
Texas is a leader in flood research, but more coordination is neededTexas Legislature should address gaps in Texas flood science, according to a University of Texas researcher.
Read more »