President Donald Trump signed the Mystic Alerts Act into law, a bill that will expand wireless emergency alerts through satellite technology, allowing people to receive critical warnings when cellular networks fail.
The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), was introduced after the deadly Hill Country flooding on July 4, 2025.
Rep. Pfluger said after the floods, it became clear that families in rural areas “can’t be left in the dark when cell networks go down.”
“By bringing satellite technology into our emergency alert system, we’re making sure warnings reach people when they need them most,” Rep. Pfluger said.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he was proud to help push this bill through the Senate Commerce Committee, adding that the legislation will help more Americans receive life-saving alerts even when traditional communication networks fail.
“The Mystic Alerts Act strengthens our emergency alert systems, will help ensure life-saving alerts reach Americans when and where they need them, and will help protect American families and communities when future disasters strike,” he said.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) added that this bill does more than address technological shortcomings, but honors those who died in the floods. Sen. Cornyn said of the more than 130 people who died, many did not receive any emergency alerts due to the storm knocking out cellular networks.
“This law will address this technology shortfall and honor the memory of those lost by ensuring Texans and all Americans can receive wireless emergency alerts on their mobile devices via satellite even when disaster strikes,” Sen. Cornyn said. “And I appreciate President Trump signing it into law.”
Rep. Fletcher said many of her constituents are still grieving the loss of family and community members. She said the legislation represents an important step toward preventing similar tragedies in the future.
“This new law is a small but important way to provide a meaningful response to the devastating floods and to learn from the tragedy so that communities across the country do not have to experience the same pain and loss that Texans did last year,” Rep. Fletcher said.
Rep. Fletcher added, “Nothing can bring back those that we lost in the flood, but we owe it to their survivors and to everyone we represent to do all we can to try to prevent another tragedy like it.”
