How Texas House Bill 3595 Changes Emergency Preparedness for Assisted Living Facilities

Texas House Bill 3595 represents a significant shift in how assisted living facilities must prepare for emergencies, especially power outages and extreme weather events. While the bill applies statewide, it has relevance for Dallas and North Texas, where heat waves, winter storms, and power disruptions have raised serious concerns about resident safety in recent years. This legislation focuses on temperature regulation, backup power planning, and transparency for residents and families.

Why This Bill Was Introduced

HB 3595 was designed to address a critical gap in emergency preparedness for assisted living residents. Past emergencies exposed how vulnerable older adults can be during extended power outages, especially those who are bedfast or rely on electrically powered medical equipment. The bill sets clear expectations for how facilities must protect residents when evacuation is not required but normal building systems fail.

Required Emergency Preparedness Plans

Under the new law, every assisted living facility in Texas must adopt and implement a formal emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan by January 1, 2026. This plan must specifically address what happens during a power outage and how residents will remain safe and cared for.

Facilities must also be prepared to notify the state if there is an unplanned interruption of electric service lasting more than twelve hours. This requirement creates greater accountability and ensures that extended outages are reported rather than handled quietly behind the scenes.

Temperature Control Standards

One of the most impactful changes in HB 3595 is the introduction of strict temperature requirements. Assisted living facilities must be able to maintain indoor temperatures between 68- and 82-degrees Fahrenheit during an emergency.

For residents who are not bedfast, facilities must designate a climate-controlled area of refuge that provides at least 15 square feet per resident. These areas are intended to serve as safe gathering spaces during outages when the entire building does not need to be evacuated.

For bedfast residents, the standard is even more specific. Each bedfast resident must be housed in an individual room during an emergency. This recognizes that some residents cannot be safely moved and need stable conditions where they are.

Planning for Vulnerable Residents

The law requires facilities to include detailed information in their emergency plans about residents with higher needs. This includes identifying bedfast residents and residents who depend on electrically powered medical equipment. Facilities must also document their building equipment, including whether they have on-site generators or other backup power sources and where those systems are located.

Importantly for families, assisted living facilities must provide a summary of their emergency preparedness plan upon request. This gives residents and loved ones clearer insight into how a community plans to respond during a crisis.

Construction and Licensing Changes Ahead

HB 3595 also looks to the future. For assisted living facilities that begin construction after September 1, 2026, Texas will establish new construction and licensing standards related to backup power systems and emergency movement of residents. This may include requirements for generator connections or multiple backup power sources.

Existing facilities are given additional time to comply with these construction standards, with full enforcement tied to license renewal dates or January 1, 2027, whichever comes later.

What This Means for Dallas Families

For families in Dallas, this law provides added reassurance. It sets consistent statewide rules and prevents local regulations from overriding these standards. Most importantly, it raises the baseline level of safety during emergencies for assisted living residents.

HB 3595 reflects a broader shift toward stronger protections for seniors. Families evaluating assisted living options can now ask clearer questions about emergency planning, temperature control, and backup power with confidence that the answers are backed by state law.