Alabama Legislature passes bill to improve safety at camps for children
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Supporters were at the Alabama State House today to urge lawmakers to pass the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act.
The bill would establish the state’s first uniform emergency preparedness standards for overnight youth camps, requiring licensed camps to maintain emergency plans, weather monitoring systems, flood safety protections, background checks for staff and annual safety training.
On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flash flooding struck Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp in Kerr County, Texas. 25 children and two counselors were killed. The group is now remembered as “Heaven’s 27.” Among those killed was eight-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, near Birmingham.
Her father spoke today in support of the bill.
“The Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act is about protection,” Patrick Marsh said. “It’s about protecting our state’s most valuable and treasured asset, our children, our future. It’s about ensuring that no parent in Alabama ever has to experience what our family has endured.”
Currently, no statewide emergency preparedness system exists for camps. The bill has already passed the Alabama House and was debated on the Senate floor this afternoon, where it passed 32-0. It now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
