Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued a joint statement on May 5, 2026, advocating for regulatory flexibility for hundreds of summer camps currently navigating new state safety requirements.
The bicameral leadership expressed support for allowing camps to qualify for licensure for the 2026 season if they maintain a “reliable communication system capable of operating during an emergency,” even if they have not yet installed specific fiber-optic infrastructure.
This call for flexibility follows the passage of a comprehensive camp safety act aimed at strengthening preparedness in response to the tragic 2025 flooding disaster. While the law mandates redundant internet access, many camps have reported significant logistical and financial hurdles in installing the required fiber-optic lines in remote regions.
Legislative leaders now acknowledge that other communication methods may satisfy the “purpose and spirit of the law,” signaling a willingness to adjust enforcement to ensure that camps operating in good faith can continue to serve Texas children this summer.
The joint statement emphasizes that while the new reforms establish a more “rigorous approach to preparedness”—including emergency planning and training—the specific requirement for fiber-optic internet has proven difficult for some facilities to meet.
Independent reporting from CBS News Texas indicates that many rural camps face quotes exceeding $100,000 for fiber installation, prompting concerns that the requirements could lead to permanent closures for smaller organizations. By supporting a more flexible interpretation of the communication requirements, Burrows and Patrick aim to provide a bridge for these facilities until the 90th Legislative Session can further refine the standards.
This new regulatory environment has already impacted major institutions in the Hill Country. The Texas Dispatch reported on May 4, 2026 that Camp Mystic withdrew its own 2026 license application, citing a desire to respect grieving families and ongoing investigations into the July 2025 floods that claimed 28 lives.
While Camp Mystic chose to step back, hundreds of other camps are currently awaiting licensing decisions from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The push for flexibility, according to the statement, is intended to prevent a wider disruption of summer operations while maintaining the enhanced safety protocols established after last summer’s tragedy.
“The upcoming 90th Legislative Session will provide an opportunity to further strengthen camp safety standards while ensuring camps operating in good faith under these new requirements can continue to serve Texas children and families,” the joint statement concluded.