Rep. Don McLaughlin announced the filing of House Bill 33, known as The Uvalde Strong Act, aimed at addressing the protocol failures from the May 24, 2022 school shooting in Uvalde that claimed the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers. The announcement was made in a press release on March 3, 2025.
According to the press release, The Uvalde Strong Act addresses the critical flaws exposed by the May 24 tragedy, focusing on improving law enforcement preparedness and emergency response coordination. It creates standardized crisis response policies, enhances interagency coordination, and ensures tactical equipment and training are in place. This approach aims to guarantee that officers are ready to act quickly and effectively while fostering collaboration between schools, first responders, and local governments under a unified crisis response framework.
In addition to strengthening preparedness and response, the Uvalde Strong Act emphasizes the importance of recovery. According to the press release, it includes provisions for providing support systems to first responders, mandates thorough post-incident evaluations, and invests in long-term measures to ensure the sustainability of safety protocols. These efforts are designed to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety and well-being of communities in times of crisis.
Rep. Don McLaughlin's post
| Don McLaughlin website
"What happened that day was a failure of duty, leadership, and preparedness," said McLaughlin. "Law enforcement hesitated, communication broke down, and innocent children and teachers were left defenseless. We must do what we can to ensure these mistakes are never repeated. The Uvalde Strong Act is about guaranteeing that when a crisis strikes, there is no confusion and no delay—only immediate, decisive action to save lives."
McLaughlin serves District 80. He was the mayor of Uvalde from 2014 to 2024 and was in office during the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. McLaughlin is a founding member of the Cactus Jack Foundation, which supports local children through school incentives. He is also a small business owner with over 100 employees and has experience in job creation and economic development.
