Overview

• Lawmakers heard from TDEM chief Nim Kidd, who described the state’s emergency response as fragmented and urged standardized communications and warning networks.
• Officials confirmed the death toll from the July 4 floods in Texas Hill Country has risen to 137, with two people—a man and a girl from Camp Mystic—still missing.
• Joint House and Senate select committees convened their first public hearing in Austin on July 23 to review flood response and will hold a second session in Kerrville on July 31.
• More than a dozen bills have been filed proposing statewide early warning systems, state-funded sirens and sensors, expanded relief funding and tougher youth camp building standards.
• Democratic legislators have threatened walkouts unless flood relief and mitigation bills take precedence over GOP-led redistricting and THC regulation efforts.