Texas Senate Passes Flood Response and Prevention Bills Following Central Texas Flooding

Press Release Contact: Taylor Sanchez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Taylor.sanchez@senate.texas.gov
August 13, 2025
Texas Senate Passes Flood Response and Prevention Bills Following
Central Texas Flooding
Austin, Texas – In the wake of the devastating July 4th floods in Central Texas, Senator César J. Blanco has
helped pass a package of bills aimed at improving disaster preparedness, accelerating recovery efforts, and
protecting communities from future flooding events. The bills stem from the work of the Senate Select
Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, on which Senator Blanco serves, and were shaped by
hearings in Austin and Kerrville. Senator Blanco co-authored the following bills:
• SB 1: Provides essential funding to improve flood mitigation and recovery statewide. It also strengthens
disaster response by requiring training for local officials, enhancing communication between state and
local agencies, and ensuring coordinated efforts to protect lives and property during severe weather.
• SB 2: Requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify high-risk flood areas and work with
local governments to install, test, and maintain outdoor warning sirens. This also creates a grant program
to help communities cover costs.
• SB13: Allows local governments to offer credits against water and wastewater impact fees for
developments that include water conservation or reuse systems, helping reduce strain on local resources
during disasters.
• SB 43: Exempts certain small dams or reservoirs—used exclusively for erosion, floodwater, and
sediment control—from lengthy permit requirements, enabling quicker construction and deployment of
flood-prevention measures.
Senator Blanco successfully introduced an amendment that broadens training requirements for local officials
tasked with emergency management responsibilities. This amendment strengthens community preparedness by
enhancing the capacity of local leaders to act swiftly, helping to prevent communication breakdowns and reduce
uncertainty during emergencies.
Senator Blanco issued the following statement:
“The families and communities in Kerrville and surrounding areas have suffered a heartbreaking tragedy, and
are still healing. By passing these bills today, we are taking a meaningful step to help families heal and recover.
We owe it to those we lost to make sure this never happens again.”
For further information, please contact Taylor Sanchez at Taylor.Sanchez@senate.texas.gov.