Families of the 27 girls who died in the July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic gave emotional testimony at the Texas Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to pass reforms that would make summer camps across the state safer.
Many parents wore buttons that read “Heaven’s 27” as they described their grief and called for action. They told lawmakers they felt betrayed and said their daughters’ deaths must not be in vain.
The legislation under consideration, Senate Bill 1 - also called the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act - would require camps to have weather radios, establish emergency evacuation plans, and ban cabins from being built in flood-prone areas. It would also mandate stronger communication with emergency officials when severe weather threatens.
The bill advanced out of committee with unanimous support after the hearing. Lawmakers from both parties praised the families for their courage and pledged to move the bill quickly to the full Senate.
Governor Greg Abbott has signaled support, and the measure is expected to reach the House in the coming days.
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