Senate OKs critical-infrastructure emergency-map requirement and grant program; TDEM given authority

The Texas Senate passed the committee substitute for House Bill 43 41, a measure that requires specified critical infrastructure facilities to supply standardized emergency response maps to public safety agencies and creates a grant program to assist facilities in complying.

Senator King, who sponsored the measure on the floor, said the maps would include building layouts, utility shutoffs and locations of safety equipment — details first responders use during emergencies. As engrossed and amended on the floor, the bill applies to public or private airports depicted on current Federal Aviation Administration aeronautical charts and to military installations owned or operated by a governmental entity.

An amendment adopted on the floor moved authority to manage the grant program to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and added a provision that, unless a facility receives a grant, it is not required to provide the maps. The amendment was adopted by unanimous consent. The bill then advanced to third reading, the Senate suspended the three-day rule, and final passage was recorded 31 ayes and 0 nays.

Sponsors described the grant program as a tool to help covered facilities develop the required maps and provide public safety agencies with standardized, useful schematics for incident response. The transcript does not record additional floor-level amendments beyond the adopted amendment shifting grant administration to TDEM and the grant-conditional requirement.

With Senate passage, the legislation will proceed through the remaining legislative steps and implementing guidance and application details will follow from the administering agency.