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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.027. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REQUIRED OUTDOOR WARNING |
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SIRENS. (a) Using any money available for that purpose, the office |
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of the governor shall establish and administer a grant program to |
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assist municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities |
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with covering the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens |
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required under Section 16.502, Water Code. |
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(b) The office of the governor shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant. |
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(c) The governor may delegate to a state agency the |
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authority to administer the grant program established under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter M to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS |
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Sec. 16.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Flood-prone area" means an area of this state |
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included in the disaster declaration issued by the governor under |
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Section 418.014, Government Code, in response to the July 2025 Hill |
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Country floods. |
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(2) "Outdoor warning siren" means a system that |
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produces a sound designed to alert a person who is outdoors of an |
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imminent disaster and encourage that person to immediately seek |
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shelter or move to higher ground. |
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Sec. 16.502. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS REQUIRED IN FLOOD-PRONE |
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AREAS. (a) The board shall identify each area in a flood-prone |
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area that: |
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(1) has a history of consistent or severe flooding; |
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and |
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(2) based on the history under Subdivision (1) and any |
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other factor the board considers relevant, warrants the |
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installation, maintenance, and operation of one or more outdoor |
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warning sirens. |
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(b) Other relevant factors the board may consider in making |
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determinations under Subsection (a)(2) include, as to each area: |
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(1) loss of human life to flooding; |
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(2) the existence of residences or other dwelling |
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structures in a flood-prone area; and |
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(3) the potential damage to real or personal property |
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resulting from a flood. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), for each area |
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identified under Subsection (a)(2), the board shall require the |
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appropriate municipality or county to install, maintain, and |
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operate one or more outdoor warning sirens in accordance with the |
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rules adopted by the board under this section. If the site of the |
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installation is: |
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(1) in the boundaries of a municipality, the |
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municipality shall install, maintain, and operate the siren; or |
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(2) in the unincorporated area of a county, the county |
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shall install, maintain, and operate the siren. |
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(d) The board may not require an outdoor warning siren for |
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an area in which a governmental entity already maintains and |
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operates an outdoor warning siren that meets the minimum standards |
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adopted by board rule. |
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(e) Municipalities, counties, and other governmental |
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entities by written agreement may jointly install, maintain, or |
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operate an outdoor warning siren required under this section. |
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(f) The board shall require each county or municipality with |
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an outdoor warning siren required under this section or any other |
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governmental entity with an outdoor warning siren in a flood-prone |
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area to regularly test the functionality of the outdoor warning |
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siren and document the results of those tests. |
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(g) The board's determinations under this section on |
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whether an area requires an outdoor warning siren are final and |
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binding. |
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(h) The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement |
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this section, including: |
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(1) procedures for the operation of an outdoor warning |
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siren in a flood-prone area of this state; and |
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(2) minimum standards for an outdoor warning siren |
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installed, maintained, or operated in a flood-prone area, including |
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standards requiring that an outdoor warning siren be equipped with |
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a backup power source that is different from the siren's primary |
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power source. |
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(i) The board may consult with other entities when adopting |
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rules and procedures to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |
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* * * * * |