SB 3

S.B. No. 3
  AN ACT
  relating to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 418.027 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.027.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR REQUIRED OUTDOOR WARNING
  SIRENS.  (a)  Using any money available for that purpose, the office
  of the governor shall establish and administer a grant program to
  assist municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities
  with covering the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens
  required under Section 16.502, Water Code.
         (b)  The office of the governor shall establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
               (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
  awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
  conditions of a grant.
         (c)  The governor may:
               (1)  transfer to a state agency any money necessary to
  carry out the grant program established under this section and the
  powers and duties established under Subchapter M, Chapter 16, Water
  Code; and 
               (2)  delegate to a state agency the authority to
  administer the grant program established under this section,
  including any authority necessary for that state agency to:
                     (A)  transfer to an appropriate fund or account
  administered by the state agency any money transferred to the
  agency under Subdivision (1); and 
                     (B)  use money transferred under Subdivision (1)
  for the necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by the state
  agency in administering this section or Subchapter M, Chapter 16,
  Water Code.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter M to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER M.  OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
         Sec. 16.501.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Flash flood-prone area" means an area of this
  state included in the disaster declaration issued by the governor
  under Section 418.014, Government Code, in response to the July
  2025 Hill Country floods.
               (2)  "Outdoor warning siren" means a system that
  produces a sound designed to alert a person who is outdoors of an
  imminent disaster and encourage that person to immediately seek
  shelter or move to higher ground and includes sensors, gauges, and
  all other components essential to the function of the system.
         Sec. 16.502.  OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS REQUIRED IN FLASH
  FLOOD-PRONE AREAS.  (a)  The board shall identify each area in a
  flash flood-prone area that:
               (1)  has a history of consistent or severe flooding;
  and
               (2)  based on the history under Subdivision (1) and any
  other factor the board considers relevant, warrants the
  installation, maintenance, and operation of one or more outdoor
  warning sirens.
         (b)  Other relevant factors the board may consider in making
  determinations under Subsection (a)(2) include, as to each area:
               (1)  loss of human life to flooding;
               (2)  the existence of residences or other dwelling
  structures in a flash flood-prone area; and
               (3)  the potential damage to real or personal property
  resulting from a flood.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), for each area
  identified under Subsection (a)(2), the appropriate municipality
  or county shall install, maintain, and operate one or more outdoor
  warning sirens in accordance with the rules adopted by the board
  under this section.  If the site of the installation is:
               (1)  in the boundaries of a municipality, the
  municipality shall install, maintain, and operate the siren; or
               (2)  in the unincorporated area of a county, the county
  shall install, maintain, and operate the siren.
         (d)  An outdoor warning siren is not required for an area in
  which a governmental entity already maintains and operates an
  outdoor warning siren that meets the best management practices and
  guidance adopted by board rule.
         (e)  Municipalities, counties, and other governmental
  entities by written agreement may jointly install, maintain, or
  operate an outdoor warning siren required under this section.
         (f)  Each county or municipality with an outdoor warning
  siren required under this section or any other governmental entity
  with an outdoor warning siren in a flash flood-prone area shall
  regularly test the functionality of the outdoor warning siren and
  document the results of those tests.
         (g)  The board's identification under this section of an area
  that warrants an outdoor warning siren is final and binding.
         (h)  The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement
  this section, including facilitating development of best
  management practices and guidance:
               (1)  for the operation of an outdoor warning siren in a
  flash flood-prone area of this state; and
               (2)  for an outdoor warning siren installed,
  maintained, or operated in a flash flood-prone area, including
  guidance that an outdoor warning siren be equipped with a backup
  power source that is different from the siren's primary power
  source.
         (i)  The board may contract or consult with other entities
  when adopting rules and procedures to implement this section.
         (j)  The board may not approve financial assistance, other
  than financial assistance for an outdoor warning siren, including
  assistance described by Section 418.027, Government Code, for a
  county or municipality until the county or municipality certifies
  to the board that it is in compliance with this section.
         SECTION 3.  Section 16.502(j), Water Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to an application for financial assistance
  submitted to the Texas Water Development Board on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 3 passed the Senate on
  August 18, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on August 27, 2025, by the
  following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 0.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 3 passed the House, with
  amendment, on August 26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 136,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
  Approved:
  ______________________________ 
              Date
  ______________________________ 
            Governor