State approves SB 767 to support fire departments in Texas Panhandle

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Texas lawmakers are stepping up support for firefighters following last year’s devastating Panhandle wildfires.

Texas Senate Bill 767 will provide a statewide inventory of firefighting equipment.

On April 30, the bill won state approval. It now awaits Governor Greg Abbott’s signature.

SB 767 will create a database of critical equipment and resources to fire departments and emergency services.

The database will be operated by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

It will provide information to be widely accessible to volunteer fire departments that often operate on low budgets and old equipment.

“Most of our departments are volunteer. So for some of those smaller departments that don’t have the resources to go out and buy a lot of this equipment, then it gives them an opportunity to reach out to those departments that already have that and get those resources coming to wherever they need them,” said Jason Love, public educator for the Amarillo Fire Department.

Officials say fire departments can share and locate equipment more effectively during emergencies, improving coordination and planning.

“While these guys are out fighting those grass fires, if someone were to be injured, we would have paramedics that are wildland certified that would already be there to offer assistance, provide medical for them, try to keep them working as long as possible. So it’s not just equipment but it also almost kind of ties into man power as well,” said Love.

Love says this bill is a step toward better protecting both responders and the communities they serve.

“We can just get on this database and the forest service can say ‘Perryton is x number of minutes away, they have these resources,’ and we can call them and get those resources coming. So in that regard it’s going to save a lot of response time,” said Love.

SB 767 will take effect September 1, 2025.