Lawmakers try again

The House State Affairs Committee meets Monday at 10 a.m. to weigh a council that would connect first responders and state and federal agencies during a disaster.

What the council would do

It would set a statewide emergency communications strategy, write standards for how agencies work together, back regional systems and keep lines reliable when a disaster hits.

Born from the Panhandle fires

Rep. Ken King of Canadian first proposed the council after the 2024 wildfires burned more than a million acres, killed three people and 15,000 cattle, and gutted his hometown.

Radios that could not talk

Investigators found the biggest failure in the wildfire response was agencies unable to coordinate, partly because their equipment could not connect to other networks.

“ineffective communication and coordination among agencies, local governments and responders”

Passed the House, died twice

House Bill 13 would have funded the council, better alerts and new county radio gear. It cleared the House both times and never got a Senate hearing.

“My goal is to ensure every first responder that puts their life on the line to battle these fires and other disasters have the tools to communicate effectively with those around them.”

A no vote reconsidered

Rep. Wes Virdell voted against the bill, then watched the July 4 floods tear through his own Hill Country district. More disasters followed, including the still-burning Ross Fire.

“I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now.”