Lawmakers are pointing to the impact of legislation passed in the aftermath of the July 2025 floods as the Hill Country once again sees major flooding.
After more than 130 people died last year, the state Legislature passed measures to tighten safety for youth camps, fund flood warning sirens, expand weather monitoring infrastructure and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in flood mitigation and disaster preparedness.
State Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican who authored several of the Legislature's flood-related measures, said some of the quickest changes came through new safety requirements for youth camps.
"One of the parents actually texted me and said the kids are safer today because of that bill," Perry said.
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt wrote on social media Thursday that flood warning sirens were used in Kerr County this morning due to heavy rainfall, which he said “gave those that heard them and others downstream notice to get to higher ground immediately.”
