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Committee backs bill to fund outdoor warning sirens for flood-prone areas, delegates grant administration to governor
Summary
Lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 2 to direct the Water Development Board (or the governor’s office by committee substitute) to identify flood-prone areas and require outdoor warning sirens; the committee substitute moves grant administration to the governor and estimates initial capital cost at up to $50 million.
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…
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