The Texas Senate gave unanimous approval Monday to the “Uvalde Strong Act,” legislation designed to overhaul the state’s response to active shooter situations. The bill, officially known as House Bill 33, now heads back to the Texas House for final consideration before likely landing on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signature.
HB 33 is the legislative response to the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022, where 19 students and two teachers were killed. Authored by State Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde) and sponsored in the Senate by State Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton), the bill aims to correct critical failures in emergency response that were exposed during and after the shooting.
Unified Command and Clear Protocols
At the heart of the legislation is a requirement for the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to create a standardized “chain of command tree” for handling active shooter situations. During the Uvalde tragedy, confusion among multiple law enforcement agencies contributed to a delayed and disjointed response. Officers on the scene were unsure of who was in charge, resulting in a 77-minute delay before confronting the shooter.
“This tragedy has exposed critical failures in law enforcement preparedness, response coordination, and school safety protocols,” Sen. Flores said on the Senate floor. “It is clear that Texas must take action to address our current shortcomings and improve readiness for future active shooter situations.”
Training and Grant Support
The legislation goes further by mandating improved emergency response training and permitting jurisdictions to enter mutual aid agreements, allowing for better coordination across agencies in crisis scenarios. Originally, the bill included a $140 million grant program to help fund active shooter accreditation programs statewide. However, the Senate revised this provision, replacing it with a “permissive grant program” allowing first responders and telecommunicators to participate in advanced response training at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center.
The change not only reduces the projected cost to the state but also focuses the funding on specialized, high-impact training programs.
A Community Still Healing
Rep. McLaughlin, who served as mayor of Uvalde during the 2022 tragedy, expressed his gratitude following the Senate vote. “This is about keeping our schools safer and making sure law enforcement and first responders are never set up to fail,” he said in a statement. “The Uvalde Strong Act is aimed at fixing the breakdowns in communication and coordination that were exposed. We owe it to the families to take action that actually matters. HB 33 does that.”
Sen. Flores echoed that sentiment. “It’s done in the military. It’s done in emergency management. And it needs to be done here—our public servants must work in unison to save lives.”
Final Steps Ahead
Since both chambers have passed versions of the bill, the House will now decide whether to accept the Senate's changes or send HB 33 to a conference committee to reconcile the differences. Either way, the bill is widely expected to reach the governor's desk in short order.
Gov. Abbott, who has previously supported strengthening school safety and law enforcement protocols, is expected to sign the legislation promptly.
