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Bill

SB 67

Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for a local state of disaster; enhancing a criminal penalty.

89th Legislature, 1st Called Session (2025) Introduced by Sarah Eckhardt and 1 co-sponsor

SB 67 expands Texas Division of Emergency Management powers during local disasters and increases criminal penalties for emergency management violations.

Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
#citygovernment--general(i0060) #countygovernment--general(i0096) #disasterpreparedness&relief(i0211) #emergencymanagement #texasdivisionof(vp6fw) #stateagencies #boards&commissions(i0749)
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Bill Summary · SB 67

Legislative bill overview

SB 67 expands the powers and duties of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) during local states of disaster and increases criminal penalties for violations related to emergency management directives. The bill is currently in early stages of the legislative process, having just been filed and referred to the Disaster Preparedness & Flooding committee.

Why is this important

The bill directly affects how emergency response is coordinated during disasters in Texas and what legal consequences individuals face for non-compliance with emergency orders. This impacts both governmental emergency management capacity and individual rights during crisis situations, particularly relevant given Texas's vulnerability to hurricanes, flooding, and severe weather events.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of expanded powers: The bill's specific new powers for TDEM are not detailed in available summaries, raising questions about whether authorities gain overly broad discretion during emergencies or appropriate capabilities for effective response
  • Criminal penalty enhancement: Increasing penalties for violations could be contentious between those prioritizing emergency compliance and those concerned about criminalization severity, particularly for minor infractions
  • Local vs. state authority: The interaction between local and state disaster powers during emergencies may create jurisdictional conflicts or concerns about state overreach into local control

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

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