On Sept. 5, 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a package of laws in Austin that tightens safety rules for youth camps after the July 4 flash floods in central Texas left more than 130 people dead, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.
Key Takeaways
- Legislation signed Sept. 5, 2025 requires camps to move cabins out of high-risk floodplains and prohibits licensing camps with cabins in those zones.
- The laws mandate robust emergency detection and public-address systems that work if internet service fails.
- Families of the 27 victims from Camp Mystic — calling themselves “Heaven’s 27” — lobbied lawmakers and helped shape the bills.
- The measures passed the Texas Legislature with wide bipartisan support; the state Senate vote was unanimous.
- Some camp operators warned that relocation and rebuilding costs could force closures of small camps in Kerr County and other Hill Country areas.
- The Eastland family, owners of Camp Mystic, expressed support for portions of the reforms and lost patriarch Dick Eastland in the floods.
- FEMA had placed much of Camp Mystic in a 100-year flood zone in 2011; that designation was later challenged by the camp.
Verified Facts
Gov. Greg Abbott signed the new rules on Sept. 5, 2025, following the July 4 flash floods that devastated parts of central Texas. Officials reported more than 130 total fatalities in the storm; 27 of those victims were children and counselors at an all-girls retreat known as Camp Mystic.
The enacted package requires youth camps to build new cabins outside identified floodplains and to relocate existing cabins away from high-risk zones. The law also requires camps to install emergency detection and warning systems and to maintain public-address capabilities that function without Internet connectivity.
Legislators advanced the bills quickly after parents and relatives of the Camp Mystic victims formed a coalition, informally called “Heaven’s 27,” and pressed for changes during a special session. Lawmakers and state leaders emphasized that many of the measures aim to prevent a repeat of the overnight river overflow that merged with a nearby creek and swept through low-lying cabins.
Several local camp operators in Kerr County and nearby Hill Country areas opposed aspects of the legislation, arguing the cost of moving or rebuilding cabins outside floodplains could be financially unsustainable. Camp Waldemar, Camp Stewart and Vista Camps submitted letters to lawmakers warning of potential closures under the new standards.
Context & Impact
Central Texas includes areas known as Flash Flood Alley, a corridor prone to sudden, intense flooding. Kerr County — where Camp Mystic is located — hosts more than a dozen youth camps and is a popular destination for multi-week summer sessions.
Camp Mystic had experienced serious summer flooding in prior years. In 2011 the Federal Emergency Management Agency placed much of the camp within a 100-year flood zone; the camp later contested that designation to avoid renovation limits and mandatory flood insurance.
The new rules will affect permitting and licensing procedures for youth camps across the state and could require site assessments, relocation planning, and capital work before the next summer season. Smaller camps with older infrastructure are likely to face the greatest financial strain.
Official Statements
Camp safety is now law in the great state of Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott
All of them lost their lives, but they have now given their lives for others in the future.
Matthew Childress, parent and bill advocate
Unconfirmed
- Whether Camp Mystic will reopen in time for its planned centennial next year; the Eastland family has hinted at reopening but provided no firm timetable.
- Details about the camp’s internal decisions on evacuation timing and specific procedural failures the night of July 4 remain under investigation and are not fully public.
Bottom Line
The new Texas laws tighten standards for youth camps by addressing cabin placement, warning systems, and evacuation planning — changes driven by families who lost loved ones at Camp Mystic. Implementation will require inspections, capital work, and oversight; the coming months will show whether the rules reduce risk without forcing many smaller camps to close.