BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1
89S10956 JCG-D	By: Perry
	Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
	8/6/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1 is comprehensive omnibus legislation intended to address the needs and challenges identified during the response to the devastating July 4 floods that inundated Central and West Texas. Specifically, S.B. 1:

� Requires campgrounds located in a 100�year floodplain to provide emergency rooftop access ladders in cabins located within the floodplain, adopt flash flood evacuation plans, and implement their flash flood when under a flash flood warning;

� Creates lines of succession with respect to emergency management responsibilities for county judges and mayors in the event they are absent, incapacitated, deceased, or otherwise unavailable;

� Requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to create an emergency manager licensing program and requires emergency management coordinators (EMCs) to obtain those licenses;

� Requires all EMCs to undergo annual TDEM training;

� Grants justices of the peace (JPs) the option to forego an inquest for a victim of a natural disaster if the family does not request one and the justice determines by clear and convincing evidence both that the victim's cause of death was the result of injuries sustained from a natural disaster and that the death was not caused by an unlawful act or omission;

� Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and TDEM to develop a mass fatality training program for JPs who serve in counties that do not have medical examiners;

� Requires the Upper Guadalupe River Authority to undergo a limited sunset review;

� Requires TDEM to develop a volunteer management system to better coordinate volunteers responding to natural disasters;

� Requires TDEM's volunteers to undergo background checks that may disqualify them from volunteering with TDEM due to a criminal history;

� Requires local governments to conduct annual drills on their emergency management plans under TDEM supervision, issue a post-disaster after-action report that must be sent to TDEM within 60 days after a disaster declaration expires, and unify county and city incident command posts in counties with 68,750 or fewer residents;

� Requires DSHS, TDEM, and the regional advisory councils in each trauma service area to create a mass fatality operations rapid response team;

� Creates a working group to establish a single data hub for the state's various mesonet systems that may be accessed by emergency management officials, research institutions, and the general public; identify the areas of the state that lack adequate coverage of flood gauges, weather radar, and other meteorological equipment; identify projects to address those inadequacies; and develop an implementation plan for a statewide system of flood gauges and other meteorological equipment that can provide information in real-time;

� Expressly authorizes regional flood planning groups created under existing law to include institutions of higher education;

� Expands eligibility for assistance from the Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Program to include small businesses (i.e., businesses with between 20 and 100 full-time employees, at least 51 percent of whom are located in Texas); and

� Authorizes the Department of Public Safety and TDEM to neutralize unmanned aircraft operating in disaster areas if the aircraft is not being operated by a first responder and its presence is unauthorized.

As proposed, S.B. 1 amends current law relating to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; requires a license; and authorizes fees.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management in SECTION 11 (Sections 418.452, 418.461, 418.463, 418.486, and 418.487, Government Code) of this bill.

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office is repealed in SECTION 28 (Sections 481.602, 481.603, and 481.608, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 49.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

(a-1) Provides that this subsection expires April 1, 2027. Provides that a justice of the peace, notwithstanding Subsection (a) (relating to requiring a justice of the peace to conduct an inquest of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if certain conditions are met) and Subchapter F (Child Fatality Review and Investigation), Chapter 264 (Child Welfare Services), Family Code, is not required to conduct an inquest into the death of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if the justice determines by clear and convincing evidence that the death meets certain criteria and a person described by Article 49.33(a) (relating to authorizing certain classes of persons to give consent for a postmortem examination or autopsy) is not otherwise seeking an inquest, regardless of the person's listed priority for purposes of that subsection.

SECTION 2. Amends Article 49.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Subsection (e-1), as follows:

(e-1) Provides that this subsection expires April 1, 2027. Authorizes a justice of the peace, notwithstanding certain provisions of Article 49.10 (Autopsies and Tests) and Subchapter F, Chapter 264, Family Code, for each body that is the subject of an inquest by the justice, to certify that an autopsy is not necessary if the justice determines by clear and convincing evidence that the death meets certain criteria and a person described by Article 49.33(a) is not otherwise seeking an autopsy, regardless of the person's listed priority for purposes of that subsection.

SECTION 3. Amends Article 49A.053, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by H.B. 1610, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, and effective April 1, 2027, by adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

(a-1) Provides that a justice of the peace, notwithstanding Subsection (a) (relating to requiring a justice of the peace to conduct an inquest of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if certain conditions are met) and Subchapter F, Chapter 264, Family Code, is not required to conduct an inquest into the death of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if the justice determines by clear and convincing evidence that the death meets certain criteria and a person described by Article 49A.203(a) (relating to authorizing certain classes of persons to give consent for a postmortem examination or autopsy) is not otherwise seeking an inquest, regardless of the person's listed priority for purposes of that subsection.

SECTION 4. Amends Article 49A.063, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by H.B. 1610, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, and effective April 1, 2027, by adding Subsection (c-1), as follows:

(c-1) Authorizes a justice of the peace, notwithstanding certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Subchapter F, Chapter 264, Family Code, for each body that is the subject of an inquest by the justice, to certify that an autopsy is not necessary if the justice determines by clear and convincing evidence that the death meets certain conditions and a person described by Article 49A.203(a) is not otherwise seeking an autopsy, regardless of the person's listed priority for purposes of that subsection.

SECTION 5. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 27, Government Code, by adding Section 27.0055, as follows:

Sec. 27.0055. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a justice of the peace of a county not served by a medical examiner.

(b) Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), to develop a training program for justices of the peace on managing mass fatality events. Requires that the training program include certain standards and information.

SECTION 6. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Section 411.14104, as follows:

Sec. 411.14104. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION: TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. (a) Provides that TDEM is entitled to obtain criminal history record information as provided by Subsection (b) that relates to a person who applies or registers as a volunteer for certain positions.

(b) Provides that TDEM, subject to certain provisions of the Government Code and consistent with the public policy of this state, is entitled to:

(1) obtain through the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record information maintained or indexed by that bureau that relates to a person described by Subsection (a); and

(2) obtain from the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) or that criminal justice agency that relates to a person described by Subsection (a).

(c) Prohibits TDEM from releasing or disclosing to any person criminal history record information obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Subsection (b)(1). Prohibits criminal history record information obtained by TDEM under Subsection (b)(2) from being released or disclosed to any person except on court order or as provided by Subsection (d).

(d) Provides that TDEM is not prohibited from disclosing criminal history record information obtained under Subsection (b)(2) in a criminal proceeding.

(e) Requires TDEM to destroy criminal history record information that is obtained under this section after the information is used for its authorized purpose.

SECTION 7. Amends Section 418.005(a), Government Code, to provide that that Section 418.005 (Emergency Management Training) applies only to certain officials, including an emergency management coordinator designated under Section 418.1015(c) (relating to authorizing an emergency management director to designate a person to serve as emergency management coordinator), rather than an emergency management coordinator designated under Section 418.1015(c) by the emergency management director of a county with a population of 500,000 or more.

SECTION 8. Amends Section 418.1015, Government Code, by adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g), as follows:

(e) Provides that certain persons in a certain order of priority, as available, if a disaster is imminent or occurring or has recently occurred and the presiding officer of the governing body of a county is not able to act as emergency management director for the county because the presiding officer is absent from the county, incapacitated, deceased, or otherwise unavailable, are designated as the emergency management director for the county for purposes of the disaster until the presiding officer becomes available.

(f) Provides that certain persons in a certain order of priority, as available, if a disaster is imminent or occurring or has recently occurred and the presiding officer of the governing body of an incorporated city is not able to act as emergency management director for the city because the presiding officer is absent from the city, incapacitated, deceased, or otherwise unavailable, are designated as the emergency management director for the city for purposes of the disaster until the presiding officer becomes available.

(g) Authorizes each county and incorporated city by order, ordinance, or other measure, to adopt procedures to implement Subsection (e) or (f), as applicable.

SECTION 9. Amends Section 418.106, Government Code, by adding Subsections (b-1) and (f), as follows:

(b-1) Requires that a local or interjurisdictional emergency management agency's emergency management plan, in a county with a population of 68,750 or less, include procedures to establish a unified incident command structure for the county and any municipality located in the county.

(f) Requires each local or interjurisdictional emergency management agency to annually conduct a drill on the agency's emergency management plan. Requires TDEM to supervise all emergency management plan drills.

SECTION 10. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 418, Government Code, by adding Section 418.1103, as follows:

Sec. 418.1103. POST-DISASTER AFTER-ACTION REPORT. (a) Requires a local or interjurisdictional emergency management agency for an area that is wholly or partly the subject of a disaster declaration by the governor under Chapter 418 (Emergency Management) or by the president of the United States to complete a post-disaster after-action report on a form prescribed by TDEM not later than the 60th day after the date a disaster declaration expires or is terminated and submit the report to TDEM.

(b) Requires TDEM to adopt the post-disaster after-action report form required to be completed and submitted under this section.

SECTION 11. Amends Chapter 418, Government Code, by adding Subchapters M and N, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M. EMERGENCY MANAGER LICENSES

Sec. 418.451. DEFINITIONS. Defines "emergency manager" and "emergency manager license."

Sec. 418.452. ADMINISTRATOR; RULES; FEES. (a) Requires TDEM to administer and enforce this subchapter.

(b) Authorizes TDEM to adopt rules to implement this subchapter.

Sec. 418.453. DATABASE OF LICENSE HOLDERS. (a) Requires TDEM to establish and maintain records of each person who holds an emergency manager license, including whether the license is valid and whether any disciplinary proceeding is pending.

(b) Requires TDEM to make the records under this section available to an emergency management director or the director's associated governmental entity on request.

Sec. 418.454. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Authorizes TDEM to establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations on the implementation of this subchapter, including on the policies, standards, and curriculum adopted under this subchapter.

(b) Provides that the committee, if established, consists of nine members appointed by the chief of TDEM (chief) or the chief's designee and is required to contain at least one emergency manager and a representative of a governmental entity that employs or is associated with an emergency manager.

Sec. 418.455. LICENSING REQUIREMENT. Prohibits a person from being designated as an emergency management coordinator under Section 418.10105(c) unless the person holds an emergency manager license.

Sec. 418.456. ELIGIBILITY FOR EMERGENCY MANAGER LICENSE; ISSUANCE. (a) Requires a person, to be eligible for an emergency manager license, to perform certain actions and meet certain standards.

(b) Requires TDEM to issue a basic, intermediate, or advanced emergency manager license, as appropriate, to an applicant who meets the eligibility requirements prescribed by Subsection (a).

Sec. 418.457. BASIC EMERGENCY MANAGER LICENSE. Requires a person, to be eligible for a basic emergency manager license, to complete not less than 40 hours of training and instruction on emergency management, which are required to consist of courses provided or approved by TDEM.

Sec. 418.458. INTERMEDIATE EMERGENCY MANAGER LICENSE. Requires a person, to be eligible for an intermediate emergency manager license, to perform certain actions and meet certain standards.

Sec. 418.459. ADVANCED EMERGENCY MANAGER LICENSE. Requires a person, to be eligible for an advanced emergency manager license, to perform certain actions and meet certain standards.

Sec. 418.460. AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK. (a) Authorizes TDEM to conduct a criminal history check, including a check of any criminal history record information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the manner provided by Subchapter D (Administrative Division), Chapter 411 (Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas), on each person who applies for an emergency manager license.

(b) Authorizes TDEM, for purposes of conducting the criminal history check, to require an applicant to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by TDEM, to TDEM or to DPS for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from DPS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(c) Authorizes TDEM to require the applicant to pay a fee to cover any costs associated with conducting a criminal history check under this section.

Sec. 418.461. ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS. Authorizes TDEM by rule to allow an applicant for an emergency manager license to credit military experience, professional experience, education, or another certification toward the eligibility requirements of Section 418.457, 418.458, or 418.459, including an emergency management credential issued by another state.

Sec. 418.462. PROVISION OR APPROVAL OF TRAINING REQUIRED. Requires TDEM to provide or approve training, instruction, and courses sufficient to enable a person to meet the licensing and continuing education requirements under this subchapter.

Sec. 418.463. EXPIRATION; CONTINUING EDUCATION; RENEWAL. (a) Provides that an emergency manager license expires on the first anniversary of the date the license is issued.

(b) Requires TDEM to renew an emergency manager license if an emergency manager performs certain actions.

Sec. 418.464. DENIAL; SUSPENSION; REVOCATION. (a) Authorizes TDEM to deny a license or renewal application or suspend or revoke a license if a person violates this subchapter or any rule adopted by TDEM under this subchapter.

(b) Provides that a proceeding under this section is a contested case under Chapter 2001 (Administrative Procedure).

SUBCHAPTER N. STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Sec. 418.481. DEFINITIONS. Defines "local government" and "volunteer management system."

Sec. 418.482. ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM. Requires TDEM to establish and maintain a statewide volunteer registration and management database to register, credential, and manage individuals who volunteer to assist in disaster response or recovery operations at the direction and under the supervision of a state agency or local government.

Sec. 418.483. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. Requires that the volunteer management system meet certain requirements.

Sec. 418.484. USE OF SYSTEM REQUIRED. Requires TDEM and each state agency and local government that deploys volunteers in disaster response or recovery operations to use the volunteer management system to perform certain actions.

Sec. 418.485. AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK. (a) Authorizes TDEM to conduct a criminal history check, including a check of any criminal history record information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the manner provided by Subchapter F (Criminal History Record Information), Chapter 411, on each person who applies to register as a volunteer under this subchapter.

(b) Authorizes TDEM, for purposes of conducting the criminal history check, to require an applicant to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by TDEM, to TDEM or DPS for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from DPS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(c) Authorizes TDEM to require the applicant to pay a fee to cover any costs associated with conduction a criminal history check under this section.

Sec. 418.486. INELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER BASED ON CRIMINAL HISTORY. Authorizes TDEM to adopt rules for the denial of a person's application to register in the volunteer management system based on the person's criminal history and for purposes of ensuring public safety and operational integrity.

Sec. 418.487. RULES. Requires TDEM to adopt certain rules for implementing this subchapter.

Sec. 418.488. FUNDS; GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) Authorizes TDEM to use any available funds to implement this subchapter.

(b) Authorizes TDEM to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations to implement this subchapter.

Sec. 418.489. AGREEMENTS. Authorizes TDEM to enter into an agreement with any public or private entity to support volunteer mobilization efforts.

SECTION 12. Amends Chapter 423, Government Code, by adding Section 423.010, as follows:

Sec. 423.010. AUTHORITY TO NEUTRALIZE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN DISASTER AREA (a) Defines "disaster," "disaster area," and "neutralize."

(b) Authorizes DPS or TDEM to neutralize an unmanned aircraft operating in a disaster area if the unmanned aircraft is being operated by a person other than a governmental entity responding to the disaster and the person does not have authorization from a governmental entity to operate the unmanned aircraft in the disaster area.

SECTION 13. Amends the heading to Subchapter CC, Chapter 481, Government Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER CC. SMALL- AND MICRO-BUSINESS DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM

SECTION 14. Amends Section 481.451, Government Code, by amending Subdivisions (3), (4), (6), and (7) and adding Subdivision (8), to define "small- and micro-business disaster recovery loan" and "small business," redefine "default rate," "fund," "disaster recovery loan," and "program," and delete the existing definition of "micro-business disaster recovery loan."

SECTION 15. Amends the heading to Section 481.452, Government Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 481.452. SMALL��- AND MICRO-BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND.

SECTION 16. Amends Section 481.452(a), Government Code, to provide that the small- and micro business recovery fund (fund) is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.

SECTION 17. Amends the heading to Section 481.453, Government Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 481.453. POWERS OF BANK IN ADMINISTERING SMALL- AND MICRO-BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND.

SECTION 18. Amends Section 481.454(b), Government Code, to require the small- and micro-business disaster recovery program (program) to expand access to capital for qualifying small businesses and micro-businesses to create jobs in this state and provides that the program constitutes a capital access program under Subchapter BB (Access to Capital Programs).

SECTION 19. Amends Section 481.455, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 481.455. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. (a) Requires the Texas Economic Development Bank (bank), under the program, to provide zero interest loans to eligible community development financial institutions for purposes of making interest-bearing loans to qualifying small businesses and micro-businesses that have difficulty in accessing capital following a declared disaster.

(a-1) Prohibits the bank from providing loans to micro-businesses under Chapter 481 (Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office) in an amount less than 50 percent of the total amount of all loans provided under the program in a fiscal biennium.

(b) Provides that a loan made by an eligible community development financial institution under the program is:

(1) required to be made to a small business or micro-business that meets certain requirements, including having suffered physical or economic injury as the result of the event leading to the disaster declaration and having paid in full any previous loan received under Subchapter CC (Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Program);

(2) makes no changes to this subdivision;

(3) prohibited from having an interest rate higher than the prevailing rate for a similar loan in this state; and

(4) redesignates existing Subdivision (3) as Subdivision (4) and makes no further changes.

Makes a nonsubstantive change to this subsection.

(c) Requires that payments on small- and micro-business disaster recovery loans be made directly to the lending community development financial institutions.

(d)-(e) Makes conforming changes to these subsections.

SECTION 20. Amends Subchapter CC, Chapter 481, Government Code, by adding Section 481.4555, as follows:

Sec. 481.4555. USE OF LOAN. Authorizes an eligible small business or micro-business to use a loan received under this subchapter to pay the business's payroll costs, including costs related to the continuation of health care benefits for the business's employees.

SECTION 21. Amends Section 481.457(a), Government Code, to require a community development financial institution participating in the program to report quarterly to the bank certain information, including the names of the small businesses and micro-businesses that have received a disaster recovery loan.

SECTION 22. Amends Section 489.107(c), Government Code, as follows:

(c) Requires that an annual status report, for the small- and micro-business disaster recovery loan program, rather than for the small business disaster recovery loan program, include a general description of each small business and micro-business for which an applicant was awarded a loan from the Texas economic development bank fund during the preceding fiscal year.

SECTION 23. Amends Subtitle A, Title 8, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 675, as follows:

CHAPTER 675. MASS FATALITY OPERATIONS

Sec. 675.001. DEFINITION. Defines "department."

Sec. 675.002. MASS FATALITY OPERATIONS RAPID RESPONSE TEAM. (a) Requires DSHS, in collaboration with the regional advisory council of each trauma service area and TDEM, to establish a mass fatality operations rapid response team that immediately on the occurrence of a mass fatality event assesses the geographic area where the event occurred for the purpose of providing information regarding the mass fatality event to public officials and employees who are conducting disaster response or recovery operations, including justices of the peace, emergency management directors and coordinators, and incident commanders, and facilitating early and appropriate activation of mass fatality management resources

(b) Authorizes the team required by Subsection (a) to be established by interlocal contract.

Sec. 675.003. INTEGRATION OF MASS FATALITY OPERATIONS RESPONSE TEAM WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE OR RECOVERY OPERATIONS. Requires each recognized search and rescue organization or recovery team, law enforcement agency, fire department, including a volunteer fire department, and emergency medical services provider to coordinate the efforts of the entity with the appropriate mass fatality operations response team when deploying in response to a mass fatality event for the purpose of ensuring coordination during the recovery of human bodies and the use of proper documentation, including chain-of-custody documentation.

Sec. 675.004. INTEGRATION OF MASS FATALITY OPERATIONS RESPONSE TEAM WITH FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS. (a) Defines "family assistance center."

(b) Requires a state agency or local government that establishes a family assistance center following a mass fatality event to coordinate efforts to provide services at the center with the appropriate mass fatality operations response team.

Sec. 675.005. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. Requires DSHS to develop and make available to state agencies and local governments that respond to mass fatality events a communications plan that includes best practices on communicating with the public and the media following a mass fatality event, ensures consistency in communications among state agencies and local governments, and provides content and strategies for communicating the medicolegal process of recovering bodies after a mass fatality event.

Sec. 675.006. MASS FATALITY DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) Requires DSHS to develop and maintain a centralized fatality tracking system for use when deploying a mass fatality operations response team.

(b) Requires that the system be capable of assigning unique case number and incident tagging, tracking the chain-of-custody for a body and associated personal effects, storing in an easily retrievable manner documentation of an autopsy and identification and release of a body, and providing real-time status updates and notifications for close relatives of a victim of a mass fatality.

SECTION 24. Amends Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 762, as follows:

CHAPTER 762. CAMPGROUND SAFETY

Sec. 762.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "campground," "campground operator," and "floodplain."

Sec. 762.002. FLOODPLAIN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Requires the campground operator of a campground located within a floodplain to:

(1) install and maintain in each campground cabin located within the floodplain an emergency ladder capable of providing access to the cabin's roof; and

(2) develop an emergency evaluation plan for evacuating on issuance of a flash flood warning campground occupants who are at a campground area within the floodplain.

(b) Requires a campground operator to implement the emergency evacuation plan developed under Subsection (a)(2) on issuance by the National Weather Service of a flash flood warning for an area of the campground.

SECTION 25. Amends Section 16.062(c), Water Code, to require the initial flood planning group to designate additional representatives if necessary to ensure adequate representation from certain interests in its region, including institutions of higher education.

SECTION 26. (a) Provides that, notwithstanding Section 1A(a), Chapter 5, page 1062, Special Laws, Acts of the 46th Legislature, Regular Session, 1939, or Section 8515.0104, Special District Local Laws Code, as effective April 1, 2027, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority is subject to a limited review under Chapter 325 (Sunset Law), Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), during the period in which the Sunset Advisory Commission reviews state agencies abolished in 2027 but is prohibited from being abolished under that chapter. Provides that, in response to the Texas Hill Country floods of July 2025, the limited review is required to assess the Upper Guadalupe River Authority's governance; management, including disaster preparedness and response; operating structure; and compliance with legislative requirements.

(b) Requires the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, after the limited review described by Subsection (a) of this section, to be reviewed as provided by Section 8515.0104, Special District Local Laws Code, as effective April 1, 2027.

SECTION 27. (a) Defines "work group."

(b) Requires the statewide meteorological data monitoring work group to include a representative of each of certain entities, designated by the executive head of the entity.

(c) Authorizes the work group, as needed, to include representatives from the National Weather Service and river authorities of this state.

(d) Requires the work group to develop a plan for implementing a statewide system of flood gauges and other meteorological equipment to provide real-time information to state and local entities to inform emergency management decisions.

(e) Requires the work group, in developing the plan described by Subsection (d) of this section, to:

(1) incorporate existing mesoscale networks and other meteorological implemented by members of the work group to create a single data hub through which state and local leaders, institutions of higher education, and the general public is authorized to access in real time statewide meteorological data;

(2) identify areas of this state that lack adequate coverage of flood gauges, weather radar, and other meteorological equipment; and

(3) identify projects, including project costs, that address the inadequacies identified in Subdivision (2).

(f) Requires the work group, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each appropriate standing committee of the legislature a copy of the plan developed under this section.

(g) Provides that this section expires December 1, 2027.

SECTION 28. Repealer: Subchapter EE (Small Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program), Chapter 481, Government Code.

SECTION 29. Provides that a justice of the peace who holds office on the effective date of this Act is not subject to removal as described by Section 27.0055, Government Code, as added by this Act, for failure to successfully complete the required training program until December 1, 2026.

SECTION 30. Requires TDEM, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt the post-disaster after-action report form as required by Section 418.1103, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 31. (a) Effective date: the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

(b) Effective date, Subchapter M, Chapter 418, Government Code, as added by this Act: January 1, 2027.