The Texas House passed HB 1 on Thursday morning. The Texas Senate passed SB 1 on Thursday evening. In the days ahead, lawmakers expect to work out one single version to send to Governor Abbott to sign into law.
This comes after the deadly hill country floods killed 27 children at the famous summer camp for girls, Camp Mystic.
Every single state senator voted for the idea. It was a key moment for families watching on from the gallery of the Senate.
"Our words will never be enough, but our commitment to the 27 families we hope will be the best we can do in these difficult times," said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, R-Texas, presiding officer of the Texas Senate.
The "Heaven's 27" Camp Safety Act passed one of the last remaining hurdles. It will soon require youth camps to have rooftop ladders on buildings, emergency response plans, and weather radios.
Maybe the biggest change will be a prohibition on all cabins standing in flood zones. Next year, the state will dedicate thirteen employees to ensure camps comply.
"We have a role as legislators to the best of our abilities protecting liberty in all costs and all cases when it's necessary, to protect our citizens, from things that will harm them, and we know that they will," said Sen. Charles Perry, R - Lubbock, the bill's author.
The Senate vote comes a day after emotional testimony from the parents of young girls who passed away in the flooding.
"Before Hadley left for camp, she was worried about being away from me for a month. I promised her that she'd be safe and ok. I told her camp was the safest place she could be, and she'd make new friends and learn new things. I lied to her. She not only wasn't safe. She died," said Carrie Hanna, from Dallas.
"This bill can't bring your daughters back, but it's going to ensure that their lives carry meaning, carry meanings far beyond their years," said Sen. Cesar Blanco, D - El Paso, to the families sitting in the gallery.
Senate Bill 1 is part of a handful of bills meant to respond to the flooding. They are expected to pass and head to the Governor to sign them into law in the coming days.