{WBAP/KLIF) Austin – The following information is from a press release from the office of State Senator Paul Bettencourt – Texas Senate District 7
Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), authored by Senate Local Government Chair Senator Paul
Bettencourt (R-Houston), with House Sponsor Terry Wilson (R- Georgetown), achieved final
passage with unanimous support in both Senate and House chambers during the Second Called
Special Session of the 89th Legislature.
SB 3, a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, filed in direct response to the devastating July 4th flood disaster in Kerr County and Central Texas, now heads to the Governor’s desk to become law, taking immediate effect. The bill mandates the installation of proven outdoor warning siren technology to alert residents and visitors when flood danger is
imminent, closing a critical public safety gap in Central Texas’ “Flash Flood Alley,” where youth
camps, RV parks, and recreational areas remain highly vulnerable to flash flooding, often lacking
reliable cellular service for emergency alerts.
“These flood warning siren system bills are needed in Texas’ river watersheds per the
direction of Gov. Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick and Speaker Burrows, to be installed by next
summer. said Sen. Bettencourt. “The legislature is resolute that the tragic river flooding of
July 4th, and others like it, will not be repeated in areas where flash flood sirens could
make a difference and save lives.”
Key Provisions of SB 3:
- Risk Identification — Directs the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to identify
flash flood–prone areas with histories of fatalities, dense residential, or recreational use. - Requires Local Gov’t’s to install and maintain outdoor flood sirens under TWDB rules.
- Grant Program — Establishes a state-funded grant program, administered by the Office
of the Governor, to assist with installation and maintenance costs, with flexibility to
delegate to other agencies for rapid deployment. - Minimum Standards — Ensures sirens, sensors, gauges, backup power, and activation
protocols meet uniform, life-saving standards. - Estimated capital investment is approx. $50 million needed to cover priority zones.
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