HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE CHAPTER 762. CAMPGROUND SAFETY

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 9. SAFETY

SUBTITLE A. PUBLIC SAFETY

CHAPTER 762. CAMPGROUND SAFETY

Sec. 762.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Cabin" means a structure used to provide temporary sleeping quarters for transient overnight guests.

(2) "Campground" means, regardless of profit:

(A) a commercial property designed to provide cabins for transient overnight guest use; or

(B) a recreational vehicle park, as defined by Section 13.087, Water Code.

(3) "Campground operator" means a person who owns, operates, controls, or supervises a campground, regardless of profit.

(4) "Floodplain" means any area within a 100-year floodplain identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Section 4001 et seq.). This term includes any area removed from the 100-year floodplain by a letter of map amendment, a letter of map revision based on fill, or a substantially similar administrative process conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(5) "Governmental entity" means this state or a state agency or political subdivision of this state.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 1), Sec. 6, eff. September 5, 2025.

Sec. 762.002. FLOODPLAIN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A campground operator shall:

(1) install and maintain in each campground cabin located within the floodplain an emergency ladder capable of providing access to the cabin's roof; and

(2) develop an emergency evacuation plan for:

(A) evacuating on issuance of a flash flood or flood warning campground occupants who are at a campground area within the floodplain;

(B) evacuating campground occupants on issuance of an evacuation order by the emergency management director or coordinator designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code, for the county or, if applicable, the municipality in which the campground is located, due to a wildfire, hurricane, or other disaster; and

(i) a tornado warning; or

(ii) an order to shelter in place issued by the emergency management director or coordinator for the county or, if applicable, the municipality in which the campground is located.

(b) A campground operator shall:

(1) implement the emergency evacuation plan developed under Subsection (a)(2)(A) on issuance by the National Weather Service of a flash flood or flood warning for an area of the campground; and

(2) implement the emergency evacuation plan developed under Subsection (a)(2)(C) on issuance by the National Weather Service of a tornado warning for an area of the campground.

(1) for a campground located in a municipality, the emergency management director or coordinator designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code, for the municipality; and

(2) the emergency management director or coordinator designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code, for the county.

(d) An emergency plan submitted to, received by, or accessed by an emergency management director or coordinator under Section 418.1015, Government Code, or any governmental entity under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 1), Sec. 6, eff. September 5, 2025.

Sec. 762.003. FIRE PROTECTION STANDARDS. (a) This section does not apply to a campground owned or controlled by a governmental entity.

(b) A campground must comply with the National Fire Protection Association 1194, Standard for Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds, 2021 Edition, other than Sections 1.1.1 and 5.1.1.1.

(c) A governmental entity may adopt a policy, rule, ordinance, or order to regulate environmental health and sanitation, electrical distribution system safety, liquefied petroleum gas storage and dispensing safety, or fire protection only if the policy, rule, ordinance, or order does not impose standards more stringent than the standards described under Subsection (b).

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 3 (S.B. 1), Sec. 6, eff. September 5, 2025.