H.B. No. 440 is a bill that mandates the inclusion of both English and Spanish in various emergency alert systems across Texas. The bill amends several sections of the Education Code and Government Code to ensure that information disseminated through emergency alert systems at institutions of higher education, as well as alerts related to power outages, abducted children, active shooters, and missing persons, is provided in both languages. Specific amendments include the requirement that emergency alerts must be communicated in English and Spanish, and that alerts must contain relevant information to assist in the safe recovery of missing individuals or to inform the public about potential dangers.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Public Safety and educational institutions to adopt rules for implementing these changes as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025. This legislative effort aims to enhance communication and ensure that critical information is accessible to a broader audience, reflecting the linguistic diversity of Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 51.218, Government Code 411.306, Government Code 411.352, Government Code 411.372, Government Code 411.388, Government Code 411.448, Government Code 411.468 (Education Code 51, Government Code 411)