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HB 172

Relating to campground emergency safety certification requirements; providing a civil penalty.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Hillary Hickland

HB 172 requires Texas campgrounds to obtain emergency safety certification and authorizes civil penalties for non-compliance to improve disaster preparedness.

Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding
#civilremedies&liabilities(i0065) #disasterpreparedness&relief(i0211) #emergencymanagement #texasdivisionof(vp6fw) #occupationalregulation--othertrades&professions(i0541) #radio(s0252) #recreational&culturalfacilities(s0286) #signs(s0235) #safety(i0740) #utilities--telecommunications(i0828)
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Bill Summary · HB 172

Legislative bill overview

HB 172 establishes emergency safety certification requirements for campgrounds in Texas and creates civil penalties for non-compliance. The bill mandates that campground operators meet specific safety standards related to emergency preparedness and response procedures. These requirements would be enforced through a penalty structure to ensure campgrounds maintain adequate safety protocols.

Why is this important

Campgrounds serve thousands of Texas residents and tourists annually, making emergency preparedness critical for protecting public safety during natural disasters and other emergencies. Clear certification standards can reduce injuries, deaths, and liability by ensuring consistent emergency response capabilities across facilities. This addresses a potential regulatory gap where campground safety standards may vary significantly or be inadequately enforced.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance costs: Smaller, independently-operated campgrounds may face significant expenses to achieve and maintain certification, potentially creating financial hardship or closures
  • Standard specificity: The bill's lack of detail about what "emergency safety certification" entails raises questions about whether standards are reasonable, measurable, and achievable
  • Enforcement mechanism: Civil penalty amounts and enforcement responsibility are unclear, which could affect consistency in how violations are handled across the state
  • Regulatory burden: Campground operators may argue this adds unnecessary bureaucratic requirements beyond existing safety codes and insurance requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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