TEXAS RV PARK OPERATORS - May 1, 2026 is your deadline to comply with the "Youth CAMPER" Act

Following a catastrophic flood on July 4, 2025, that claimed dozens of lives in the Hill Country, the Texas Legislature passed HB 2701/ SB 1 (The Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act), and House Bill 1/ Senate Bill 3, called the Youth CAMPER Act.

In September 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed the bills into law, making Texas the first state in the nation to adopt the NFPA 1194 (Standard for Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds) as a statewide building and safety code.

What these laws do: Establishes uniform construction, operations and safety standards for all private RV parks, covering everything from emergency notifications to safety to electrical and plumbing to site spacing.

If your park has cabins or sites near a river or in a FEMA-mapped floodplain, you are now legally required to have a professional-grade emergency plan on file with the county, install roof-access ladders on cabins, and maintain a non-internet-dependent warning siren/PA system.

The Deadlines: Existing parks have until May 1, 2026 to submit their first formal emergency plan to the state/local authorities, though equipment requirements (like ladders and radios) may be subject to immediate enforcement depending on local interpretation. And, until September 1, 2026, to comply with these new minimum standards.

To help you navigate these new requirements, we’ve put together a compliance checklist based on these new laws and their integration with the NFPA 1194 (2021 Edition).

Get the Texas "Heaven’s 27" Camp Safety Act Campground Compliance Checklist - enter your info here and it will be sent to your email as a PDF attachment.