Governor Abbott Signs “Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act” into Law

AUSTIN, Texas - On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott officially signed into law sweeping new safety regulations for youth camps across Texas in response to the tragic July 4th flash flooding at Camp Mystic that claimed 27 lives. Dubbed the “Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act,” the legislation hammers new requirements on floodplain siting, emergency planning, and warning systems for all licensed camps in the state.

The Act prohibits any camp from operating cabins or sleeping quarters within a 100-year floodplain and mandates that camps implement redundant, real-time weather alert systems tied directly to the National Weather Service. Each camp must develop and file a natural disaster emergency plan-covering evacuation routes, shelter-in-place procedures, camper tracking, and communication protocols-with the Texas Department of State Health Services before the start of every season. Annual staff training, camper drills, and clearly marked, illuminated evacuation routes are also required under the new law.

Governor Abbott, joined by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows, lauded the unanimous legislative effort, remarking that these measures ensure “no parent should ever endure heartfelt pain of sending their child to camp only to lose them to avoidable failures”. In his signing statement, the governor emphasized that while the law cannot eliminate every hazard, it “insists on vigilance, preparedness, and accountability where children are entrusted to the care of others”.

Camp Mystic’s executive director, whose family suffered the loss of Dick Eastland in the floods, released a statement expressing support for the legislation and gratitude to the families whose “relentless advocacy turned grief into action.” Parents of the 27 victims, many of whom testified before the Legislature in August, were present for today’s ceremony and stood alongside state leaders as the governor affixed his signature to the Act.

The law takes effect immediately, giving licensed camps across Texas a clear framework to fortify their operations against severe weather and flood risks. Camp operators now face a strict deadline to relocate any existing cabins out of floodplains and to submit comprehensive emergency plans to state regulators before admitting campers for upcoming sessions.