AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers are back in Austin for a special session, and they have just 30 days to tackle a list of controversial and complex issues, including flooding recovery and preparedness. But analysts say the clock — and the politics — will be working against them.

Scrimping on flood protection may have saved taxpayers money. But the Hill Country floods on July 4 cost 137 people -- including children -- their lives.

Top state officials are testifying that communication needs to improve between the state and local officials, between first responders, and with the large number of volunteers on the ground.

The recent flash floods in central Texas impacted thousands of homes and laid bare the challenges facing local homeowners, including rising insurance rates.

Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said.

In response to the deadly floods in the Hill Country, lawmakers from both the House and Senate formed the Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Committee. Today they heard from state officials on the deadly July 4th floods.

As communities across Central Texas reel from the deadly floods that devastated Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country towns, Fox 29 Chief Meteorologist Alex Garcia is speaking out about what went wrong and what needs to change.