The Senate select committee advanced Senate Bill 2, which would identify flood-prone areas of the state and require municipalities or counties to install outdoor warning sirens in those zones. A committee substitute moved administration of the grant program that would help cover siren costs to the governor’s office and allowed delegation to another state agency.

Why it matters: Committee members said recent flash floods showed gaps in warning systems in rural canyon and river areas with limited cell coverage. Proponents argued outdoor sirens, combined with gauges and automated triggers, would provide a fail-safe public notification in places where wireless alerts are unreliable.

What the bill would do
- Require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to identify flood-prone areas using factors such as flood history, fatalities and presence of camps or dwellings; the board would adopt minimum standards for outdoor warning sirens and backup power supplies.
- Direct municipalities (inside city limits) or counties (in unincorporated areas) to install, maintain and operate sirens where TWDB (or the governor-delegated grant administrator) determines they are needed.
- Authorize use of state grant funds to assist localities with installation; the committee substitute assigns administration of that grant program to the governor’s office with authority to delegate.

Costs: In committee, sponsors said the Lower Colorado River Authority produced a white paper estimating initial capital investment at no greater than $50,000,000; the proposed funding source discussed on the dais was a companion fiscal bill (referred to in committee as SB 3).

Support and concerns: John Hoppin, executive vice president for water at LCRA, and Brian McMath of the TWDB supported the measure and urged coordination between sirens, gauge networks and weather modeling. Bill Arthur, who explained the substitute to the committee, cautioned about administrative overhead: “If we have administration costs that exceed $50,000,000 then we’re gonna have a serious problem.”

Allocation and equity questions: Some senators asked whether river authorities or local entities that already have reserves should receive grant money; discussion referenced the Upper Guadalupe River Authority’s prior grant activity and reserves. Sponsors said the governor’s office administration would allow quicker decisions and flexibility on allocations.

Implementation notes: Speakers emphasized that sirens are not a sole solution but must be placed strategically and tied into gauge-monitoring, model outputs and community evacuation plans; maintenance, testing schedules and backup power were repeatedly noted as essential to preserve public confidence.

Next steps: The committee adopted the committee substitute for SB 2 and closed public testimony; the bill will be left pending for further action. The committee flagged the need to coordinate this program with Mesonet and gauge expansion in SB 1 and with funding bill SB 3.