AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — A bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening emergency communication networks and warning systems across Texas stalled in the Senate during the regular legislative session, despite passing the House with broad support. Now, with a special session set to begin on July 21, lawmakers are revisiting the issue in light of recent deadly flooding in Central Texas.

House Bill 13, supported by legislators across party lines, proposed the creation of a government council to develop an emergency response plan and administer a grant program focused on improving coordination among first responders. The bill also called for incorporating outdoor warning sirens into local emergency plans.

“It’s clear that seamless communication among first responders is not just beneficial — it’s vital,” said Representative Donna Howard of Austin in a written statement. Howard voted in favor of the bill during the regular session.

Representative John Bucy III of Austin also backed the measure, emphasizing the importance of real-time information during natural disasters. “Public safety is paramount, and during emergencies like these, timely communication can save lives,” he said in a statement.

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The bill did not receive a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee before the session ended. State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, who voted in favor, said the lack of action in the Senate was a matter for Senate leadership to explain.

“The reason they did not get a hearing in the Senate is a good question for the Senate and the senators and Lieutenant Governor,” Martinez Fischer said. “Looking at what the governor has added to the special session call, I think we’re going to get a chance to know.”

One of the few votes against the measure came from Representative Wes Virdell of Kerrville, who voiced concern over the bill’s estimated cost of one billion dollars. However, Representative Ellen Troxclair of Lakeway suggested Virdell may be reconsidering. "Led by Kerr County State Rep. Wes Virdell, my colleagues and I are looking at expanding flood warning sirens and strengthening emergency communication networks across our most vulnerable regions,” Troxclair said in a statement.

When asked whether he believes the issue will be addressed during the special session, Martinez Fischer said, “I don’t know that everything will get addressed, but we just need a big mirror that people need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, are they here to be part of the problem or to be part of the solution?”

Texas currently has a budget surplus of nearly $24 billion. On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott released the official agenda for the upcoming special session. It includes flood warning systems, emergency communication infrastructure, and relief funding in response to flooding in the Hill Country.