On September 5, 2025, Texas took historic action to make youth camps safer. Senate Bill 1 (collectively known as the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act) and House Bill 1 (The Youth CAMPER Act) were officially signed into law.
This marks a major turning point in how licensed summer youth camps and campgrounds across Texas must prepare for severe weather and natural disasters.
In the wake of the tragic Camp Mystic floods that claimed the lives of 27 children and camp counselors, this sweeping legislation introduces major new safety mandates for all licensed youth camps across Texas, closing long-standing gaps in severe weather preparedness, floodplain risk mitigation, and emergency communications.
Here’s what the new Heaven’s 27 camp safety legislation means for camp leaders—and how Perry Weather can help.
What Is the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act?
Passed unanimously in a special session, the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act (SB1) amends the Texas Health and Safety Code (Chapter 141) and creates Chapter 762, introducing strict emergency preparedness standards for youth camps and campgrounds.
Authored by Sen. Charles Perry, this is Texas’ first major overhaul of camp safety laws, targeting severe weather preparedness, emergency communication, and flood risk reduction.
The Heaven’s 27 camp safety bill now requires camps to implement real-time weather alert systems, train staff on evacuation procedures, and maintain detailed emergency response plans—with immediate, mandatory compliance for all camp operators.
📋 Camps Must Develop a Detailed Emergency Action Plan
Under Section 141.0091, youth camps must develop a comprehensive emergency action plan that addresses potential scenarios, including lost campers, severe injuries, epidemics, aquatic emergencies, and unauthorized persons on the camp premises:
- Emergency plans for natural disasters, such as floods and severe thunderstorms, must be submitted to state and local authorities before the camp season begins.
- The plan must include evacuation protocols, shelter-in-place procedures, camper tracking methods, and communication strategies. The law also mandates that camps train staff annually on this emergency response plan and hold evacuation drills for campers at the beginning of each session.
📌 Submission Requirement: Camps must submit their plan to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) annually, and update it whenever changes are made. If the plan is found deficient, camps have 45 days to revise and resubmit.
🛑 Camps in Floodplains Will No Longer Be Licensed
Under Section 141.0052, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) “shall not issue or renew a youth camp license for a youth camp that operates one or more cabins (camper sleeping quarters) located within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated floodplain.”
The camp safety legislation requires camps to move structures away from floodplains or hazardous areas and also states that camps must install emergency roof access ladders in cabins located in floodplains.
Floodplain Distinction
Sec. 141.0052. PROHIBITED LICENSURE OF YOUTH CAMPS WITHIN FLOODPLAIN; EXCEPTION.
– (a) The department shall not issue or renew a youth camp license for a youth camp that operates one or more cabins located within a floodplain.
– (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department may issue or renew a license to a youth camp described by Subsection (a) only if:
– (1) each cabin location within a floodplain is a result of the cabin’s proximity to a lake, pond, or other still body of water that:
(A) is not connected to a stream, river, or other watercourse; or (B) is dammed; or
(2) each cabin is at least 1,000 feet from a floodway.
- New restriction: Camps with cabins in river floodplains will not be granted or renewed licenses to operate.
- What It Means: Camps must reassess all facilities to ensure housing and gathering spaces are outside of known flood zones.
Youth camp operators must provide parents with emergency plans and inform them if the camp area is within a floodplain.
✅ EXCEPTION: Camps can operate cabins in a floodplain only if:
- The cabin is near a still body of water like a pond or dammed lake, not connected to a river or stream.
- OR the cabin is at least 1,000 feet from a floodway.
⚠️ Camps Must Designate Safe Assembly Points and Muster Zones for Emergencies
Section. 141.0091 requires camps to designate safe muster zones for campers and staff to gather during any evacuation—fire, weather, intruder, etc.
Track Campers During Emergencies
Camps must have a system in place to track the location and status of all campers during an emergency evacuation. They must also designate an emergency preparedness coordinator and establish detailed communication plans with emergency services and parents.
⚠️ Camps Must Act Immediately on Weather Alerts
Section 762.002 requires camps to evacuate or shelter in place the moment a flash flood, flood, or tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service.
- If a flood warning is issued, camps are legally required to evacuate all campers to higher ground. Camps must act preemptively on official National Weather Service alerts, not personal judgment.
- This applies regardless of current visible weather conditions—real-time alerts and early action are now the standard.
Camps must now notify parents in writing if any part of the property lies within a floodplain and collect signed acknowledgment forms confirming the disclosure
🧭 Camps Must Install Emergency Warning Systems and Real-Time Weather Monitoring
Under Section 141.0091(c), youth camps are now required to maintain reliable, redundant systems for receiving and sharing weather alerts. Camps must:
- Keep an operable radio capable of broadcasting real-time National Weather Service alerts (or similar professional sources).
- Install and maintain an emergency warning system that can alert all campers—this must include a public address system that works without the internet.
- Continuously monitor safety alerts from the NWS, local river authorities, and other official emergency channels.
- Provide two internet connections—a primary fiber-optic service and a secondary broadband backup—to ensure alerts and communication systems remain online during severe weather.
Perry Weather’s weather station, lightning alerting, and audible siren/PA systems directly support these mandates.
Camps Must Provide Annual Camp Safety Training and Drills for Staff
Section 141.0091(k–l) requires that:
- All staff must be trained annually in emergency response and weather procedures.
- Camps must run evacuation drills at the start of each session to ensure campers know what to do if a warning is issued.
Texas State will Maintain a Public Online Registry of All Licensed Youth Camps
Section 141.0056 requires that the state department must post, maintain, and update a list of each youth camp with an active license issued under this chapter.
Camper Training Requirements
Safety doesn’t stop with staff—it extends to campers too. The Heaven’s 27 law now requires youth camps to actively train and inform every camper so they know what to do when emergencies arise. As per Section 141.0091, camps must now create a formal emergency plan covering:
- Define boundaries and hazards: Each camper must be shown the camp’s physical limits and warned about any hazards on-site (such as rivers, cliffs, or restricted areas).
- Set expectations in emergencies: Campers must be instructed on how to behave during severe weather, flooding, or other emergency events.
- Train for real response: Every camper must be taught the exact steps to follow according to the camp’s emergency plan, ensuring consistency between staff and campers when action is needed.
By putting this training in place, camps create a culture of preparedness—where everyone, not just staff, knows how to respond quickly and safely.
What Camps Must Do Now to Comply
| Step | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Audit infrastructure | Map floodplain zones, verify cabin locations | Prevent licensing denial |
| Deploy real-time weather sensors + alerts | On-site weather stations + lightning detection | Meet real-time alerting requirement |
| Establish redundant comms | NOAA radio + PA systems + backup internet | Ensure alerts reach everyone |
| Form & submit emergency plans | Cover floods, storms, evacuation, tracking | Compliance with new statute |
| Run drills & training | Simulate scenarios before season start | Meets training mandate |
| Document logs automatically | Timestamp events, alerts, actions | Audit-ready proof of compliance |
How Perry Weather Aids Camp Safety (and Helps Save Lives)
Perry Weather’s real-time weather sensors, lightning detection, audible alerts, and text-to-speech PA systems directly support camp operators in meeting the new safety mandates laid out in the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act — including compliance with Sections 141.0091 and 141.0092.
Perry Weather is already in use across hundreds of campgrounds, parks, and school districts, helping them stay ahead of storms and maintain detailed weather logs.
✅ Real-Time NWS & Flood Alerts, Not Just Forecasts
Perry Weather’s system delivers instant alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS), including flash flood warnings, river advisories, and severe weather bulletins. Perry Weather’s NWS integrations trigger immediate response when warnings are issued—fulfilling the law’s requirement to act.
You’ll be notified the moment a flood warning is issued—giving you the time you need to evacuate and act decisively.
✅ Location-Specific Weather Intelligence
While free apps and forecasts rely on data from distant airports, Perry Weather uses on-site sensors and GPS-based alert zones that reflect the exact conditions at your camp—not miles away.
✅ Automated Emergency Communication
Send real-time alerts to your staff via mobile push notifications, text messages, sirens, strobes, and your PA system. No more shouting across fields or chasing down counselors in the dark.
Perry Weather can trigger warnings and pre-set instructions the moment a flood alert is issued.
✅ Built-in Evacuation Logs and Documentation
If you ever need to prove that your camp acted in accordance with HB1/SB1, Perry Weather gives you a timestamped, exportable record—a critical tool in audits or investigations.
| Mandate | Summary | How Perry Weather Can Help |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibit sleeping cabins in flood-prone zones | Camps cannot operate sleeping cabins in a floodplain unless adjacent to still water or built ≥ 1,000 ft from a floodway with additional safety measures. | Use site‑level flood mapping + geofencing alerts to flag at-risk buildings and enforce evacuation rules. |
| Annual Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) required | Camps must submit and update plans covering floods, fire, lost campers, natural disasters, and more. | Perry Weather’s system can integrate emergency action plan triggers (storms, floods) automatically and push real‑time alerts during an event. |
| Mandatory safety systems & redundancy | Required systems include NOAA weather radios, camp-wide PA systems, redundant internet, illuminated evacuation routes. | Perry Weather can feed NWS alerts to PA or siren systems, send redundant alerts via mobile/SMS/dashboard, and provide backup channels. |
| Public registry & transparency | Texas must maintain a public registry of licensed camps. Camps must provide plans, notify parents if parts are in floodplains, and accept complaints. | Encourage camps to embed alert widgets publicly or show compliance dashboards, and support logs for public review. |
| Training, drills, orientation | Camps must give campers safety orientation (within 48 hours), train staff annually, and keep records. | Use Perry’s alert tools for simulated drills (e.g. push a mock lightning event) to help staff practice responses. |
| No waivers or exemptions | New rules remove prior exemptions — all camps must comply. | Emphasize that partial compliance or workarounds won’t suffice — full automation is the path forward. |
| Enforcement & licensure | DSHS will enforce compliance; licenses may be revoked if camps fail requirements. | Stress that real-time logs, alerts, and proof of responses are not optional—they’re legally required. |
Texas Camps in Flood Zones: What to Do Now
If you operate a camp in or near a floodplain, the Heaven’s 27 law changes everything. Here’s your immediate checklist:
- Identify if your cabins or activity areas are in a designated floodplain.
- Create and file your disaster emergency plan before your next session.
- Equip every cabin with a NOAA weather radio.
- Ensure your camp has two reliable internet connections for alerts and communication.
- Conduct evacuation drills and train your staff on emergency procedures.
- Set up a system that can automate alerts and communication in real time.
FAQs on the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act
Who does the new HB1/SB1 law apply to?
All licensed youth camps in Texas. Unlicensed or informal programs are not covered, though best practices suggest they follow the same standards.
When does the camp safety law take effect?
It was passed in a special session and takes effect immediately for all licensed camps.
What happens if my camp is in a floodplain?
You will not be licensed to operate if cabins are located in a designated river floodplain. Relocation or reconstruction will be required.
How will compliance be checked?
Camps must submit emergency plans to state and local authorities, and inspections will verify radios, connectivity, drills, and training.
What are the camp safety regulations if my camp is in a floodplain?
Under the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, Texas youth camps must meet strict new rules if located in a floodplain:
1. Cabins (camper sleeping quarters) cannot be placed in floodplains—unless:
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The area is next to a still body of water (like a lake or pond not connected to a stream or river), or
-
The floodplain is dammed to control water flow.
2. If cabins are within 1,000 feet of a floodway (areas near rivers or streams that flood often), camps must:
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Install an emergency roof access ladder on each cabin.
-
Create a flood evacuation plan to follow during flash flood warnings.
These Texas flood safety requirements for youth camps are designed to reduce risk during severe weather and protect campers in high-risk areas.
Were Texas youth camps required to have emergency action plans before the Heaven’s 27 and Youth CAMPER Acts?
No. Before 2025, Texas youth camps were not legally required to have formal emergency action plans. Camps only needed a basic written disaster plan under Department of State Health Services (DSHS) guidelines—but these plans were not reviewed, regulated, or enforced.
As a result, emergency readiness varied widely from camp to camp.
The Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act and Youth CAMPER Act now require:
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Legally mandated emergency action plans
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Standardized content requirements (e.g. severe weather, flooding, evacuation)
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DSHS review and enforcement, not just existence
These laws ensure every camp has a verified, actionable safety plan to protect campers during storms, floods, or other emergencies.
Camps must designate safe areas for campers and staff to gather during any evacuation—fire, weather, intruder, etc.
How will Texas enforce the new summer camp safety regulations?
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will enforce the new camp safety laws. DSHS already oversees youth camp licensing and will now:
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Review and approve emergency action plans
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Inspect for compliance with floodplain, weather alert, and evacuation requirements
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Use additional funding and staff provided by the legislation to ensure strong enforcement
For the first time, non-compliance can result in penalties or license action, making safety standards enforceable—not optional.
Will the new camp safety regulations be active before the 2026 summer camp season?
Yes. The laws took effect September 5, 2025, with specific deadlines to ensure full compliance before campers return in 2026:
| Deadline | Requirement |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | DSHS must publish new licensing and safety rules |
| April 1, 2026 | Camps must submit their Emergency Action Plans to DSHS |
The April submission deadline ensures:
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Camps have time to build comprehensive plans
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DSHS has 45+ days to review and request corrections
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All camps have fully approved, enforceable safety plans before summer 2026
“We Will Never Let This Happen Again”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Charles Perry, the bill’s sponsor, called the act “a promise that what happened at Camp Mystic never happens again.”
That was the promise made by the families of the victims at Camp Mystic. The Heaven’s 27 Act is their legacy. For camp directors, this isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a moral one.
These new camp safety rules represent a significant shift in responsibility, requiring a more robust and technologically sound approach to address critical gaps in Texas camp safety regulations.
These mandates may feel overwhelming, especially for camps used to operating on trust, tradition, and instinct. But the reality is: guesswork is no longer enough.
With Perry Weather, you can ensure you’re not just meeting the letter of the law but exceeding it—protecting your campers, your staff, and your community from the next storm.
Ready to Protect Your Camp?
Perry Weather is trusted by schools, parks, and public agencies across the country. Let us help you implement a severe weather plan that meets Texas’s new standards and keeps your campers safe—every day, in every condition.
Start protecting your camp today with a free two-week trial of Perry Weather and see firsthand how easy it is to put compliance and safety on autopilot.
