In a sweeping and bipartisan vote, the Texas House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed the “Uvalde Strong Act,” a comprehensive legislative response to the emergency management breakdown that occurred during the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The tragedy claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers and exposed serious flaws in law enforcement’s handling of the active shooter situation.
House Bill 33, authored by state Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde), passed with a vote of 147-0 and had 81 co- or joint-authors from both sides of the aisle — a rare show of unity in a polarized political climate. McLaughlin, serving his first term in the Texas House, was the mayor of Uvalde during the shooting and its chaotic aftermath.
“This bill fixes what was broken,” McLaughlin said in a statement following the vote. “House Bill 33 ensures that confusion and hesitation will never again be an excuse. It demands clear command, real-time coordination, and immediate action when lives are on the line.”
The legislation tasks the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) with creating a standardized chain of command for all active shooter situations in the state. It allows agencies across jurisdictions to enter mutual aid agreements and establishes a $25,000 grant program to help local entities attain active shooter preparedness accreditation.
Key components of HB 33 include:
A mandated uniform response protocol for active shooter incidents, ensuring clarity in leadership and coordination during emergencies.
Creation of an Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center to standardize and elevate tactical training across Texas law enforcement.
Development of a mental health resources plan for first responders exposed to critical incidents, to be distributed statewide.
Implementation of metrics and evaluation criteria to judge school emergency response plans.
The bill is a direct answer to findings in the Texas House’s July 2022 report, which revealed systemic failures in law enforcement’s response to the Robb Elementary shooting. According to the report, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police chief failed to effectively assume or delegate the role of incident commander during the attack, despite having assigned that duty to himself in advance planning. That leadership vacuum, lawmakers concluded, likely prolonged the response and increased the loss of life.
“It was chaos when there should have been clarity,” McLaughlin told reporters after the vote. “We can't undo the past, but today we made sure Texas is ready for the future.”
The bill also represents a deeper political moment: McLaughlin, a Republican who flipped his seat from Democrat control in the last election, has taken a leading role in what many consider one of the most significant bipartisan safety measures to emerge from the Texas Capitol in years.
While HB 33 does not address gun control — such as raising the minimum age to purchase semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, a measure sought by many Uvalde families but blocked last session — it tackles the operational failures widely blamed for the deadly outcome in 2022.
The bill’s Senate companion was filed by Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton), who also represents Uvalde. It is expected to receive broad support in the upper chamber.
Earlier this month, the City of Uvalde agreed to a $2 million settlement with the families of the victims. While that resolution provided some legal closure, many families and advocates have continued to push for systemic changes in policy — including through legislation like HB 33.
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