Texas Lt. Governor Urges DSHS to Deny Camp Mystic License

Pending Investigation into Deadly July 4th Floods at Camp

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is calling on the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to deny Camp Mystic a license to operate in the upcoming 2026 summer season, pending an investigation by state legislative committees into the deadly July 4th floods that killed 27 campers and counselors at the camp.

Why it matters

The deadly flooding incident at Camp Mystic has raised serious questions about the camp's safety protocols and the state's oversight of summer camps. The Lt. Governor's letter signals a broader political and legal fallout from the tragedy, with multiple lawsuits already filed against state officials and the camp's owners.

The details

In his letter to DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, one of the defendants named in a federal lawsuit over the licensing of Camp Mystic, Lt. Governor Patrick said the camp should not be granted a license until the deaths are fully investigated and necessary corrective actions are taken. The Texas House and Senate have established committees to look into the July 4th floods, and those panels are expected to meet in the spring.

  • The deadly July 4th floods at Camp Mystic killed 25 campers and 2 counselors.
  • One camper, Cecilia "Cile" Steward of Austin, remains missing more than 7 months later.
  • Lt. Governor Patrick's letter to DSHS was issued on February 23, 2026.

The players

Dan Patrick

The Lieutenant Governor of Texas who is urging the state's DSHS not to grant Camp Mystic a license for the 2026 summer season.

Jennifer Shuford

The Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, who is one of the defendants named in a federal lawsuit over the licensing of Camp Mystic.

Camp Mystic

A nearly century-old summer camp in Central Texas that is at the center of multiple lawsuits over the deadly July 4th floods that killed 27 people.

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What they’re saying

“DSHS should not grant Camp Mystic a license until these deaths are investigated and any necessary corrective actions are taken to ensure this never happens again.”

— Dan Patrick, Texas Lieutenant Governor (Lt. Governor's Letter)

What’s next

The Texas House and Senate committees investigating the Camp Mystic incident are expected to meet later this spring to look into the events surrounding the deadly July 4th floods.

The takeaway

The Lt. Governor's call to deny Camp Mystic a license until a full investigation is completed underscores the intense political and legal scrutiny surrounding this tragedy. State officials face mounting pressure to ensure proper safety protocols are in place at summer camps to prevent such devastating loss of life in the future.