Mystic Alerts Act now unanimously passed by Senate

A bill to enhance emergency preparedness in the wake of the July 4, 2025, Texas Hill Country floods heads to the president for his signature.  Ahead of adjourning on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Mystic Alerts Act.

The bill will allow wireless emergency alerts to be delivered via satellite communications technologies when other pathways fail during emergencies, including severe weather and other natural disasters.  According to  a release, the Mystic Alerts Act will:

~Allow cellular companies to partner with satellite communications providers to deliver wireless emergency alerts during emergencies.

~Direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish rules and policies to preserve the effectiveness of wireless emergency alert infrastructure while integrating satellite communication.

~Create a new communications pathway to enable the delivery of emergency alerts in areas where other infrastructure has been destroyed or taken offline.

By using satellite networks, the proposed system is intended to provide another way to send alerts, especially in areas where cell towers are knocked out or coverage is limited.  On July, 4, 2025, there were multiple reports of undelivered wireless emergency alerts throughout the areas impacted by the disaster once cellular infrastructure was damaged.

“More than 130 people were tragically killed in the July 4th floods that ravaged Central Texas last year, many of whom did not receive emergency alerts due to compromised cellular networks that were knocked out by the storm,” said U.S. Senator John Cornyn.  “This bill 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, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law soon.”

If signed into law, federal agencies would move forward with implementing the expanded alert capability.