With recovery efforts still underway in Central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott today confirmed that the already-scheduled special legislative session, set to begin on July 21, will now include flood emergency response and preparedness on the agenda.
Abbott emphasized lawmakers will focus on addressing the catastrophic July 4 flood - which has claimed over 100 lives, left more than 160 people missing, and devastated communities along the Guadalupe River watershed — by proposing targeted legislation aimed at improving flood resilience across the state.
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What to Expect in the Session
Proposals include state-funded outdoor sirens and enhanced alert infrastructure, following the collapse of House Bill 13 earlier this year.
Additional measures are expected to cover FEMA Hazard Mitigation grants and support for disaster recovery centers, with funding allocations from lawmakers.
Abbott said the approach will be tailored to each region’s specific river basin risks, rather than applying uniform solutions statewide.
Leadership Speaks Up
House Speaker Dustin Burrows pledged:
“We want to make sure that when we end that session, we end it making sure these communities are better, more resilient and have the resources they need for the next chapter of their lives.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other officials have called for immediate action:
“If a community can’t do it, then the state should come in and do it… We should strive to do that before next summer.”
Why It Matters
This marks a rare pivot in the Legislature - shifting from pre-set priorities like THC regulation to urgent disaster preparedness in direct response to a live crisis. Kerr County and surrounding Hill Country towns, still reeling from one of Texas’s deadliest floods, will see relief and safeguards debated directly in Austin.
As Abbott put it: “What’s needed in that river basin… could be far different than what’s needed in some other river basin across the state.”
Stay tuned to KRLD.com for in-depth coverage of the July 21 special session and what it could mean for Texas’s flood safety - before the next storm hits.
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