![]() In July, the cities of Houston and San Antonio filed a joint lawsuit against the state of Texas, claiming that the law violates the state constitution and infringes on the rights of home-rule cities to pass their own ordinances. “The passage of the Death Star Law sets up other states to follow suit.” “The Death Star law is part of a trend of broad preemption bills we see in Republican-controlled states across the country – in states like Michigan, Florida, and Tennessee – as part of a larger effort to hold power at the state level and punish local governments from passing policy that the state legislature doesn’t support,” said Local Progress Texas, a network of liberal local government officials, in a news release. More Cities Address ‘Shade Deserts’ As Extreme Heat Triggers Health Issues.The Dorchester Food Co-op Is Here To Shake Up Boston’s Food Ecosystem.These Cities Are Depaving For A Cooler Future.Homes Are Vanishing From NYC’s Wealthiest Neighborhoods, And It’s Worse Than We Thought.(Abbott’s office did not respond to Next City’s questions about the need for HB2127 or its benefits.) But opponents believe its aim is to weaken bluer cities and counties’ ability to regulate their industries and enact progressive policies. “The purpose of this Act is to provide regulatory consistency across this state and return the historic exclusive regulatory powers to the state where those powers belong,” reads the bill, introduced to the state’s Republican-controlled legislature. ![]() Greg Abbott a month later, the legislation could affect local policies dealing with ordinances – including agriculture, insurance, labor, natural resources, and occupation codes - that contradict the state. Passed in May and signed into law by Texas Gov. ![]() House Bill 2127 - also known as the Super Preemption Bill or, among opponents, the “Death Star” bill - aims to regulate many aspects of commerce and trade in local jurisdictions that differ from state-imposed directives. 1, that protection is now facing an existential threat. As a sweeping new state law aimed at handicapping Texas’s more liberal city governments is set to take effect Sept. In 2015, El Paso became the second city in the country to safeguard its workers by passing a historic wage theft ordinance. Meanwhile, the Texas Association of Business, through the Freedom Litigation Center, released a statement urging the State to appeal the decision: “We are confident that when the dust settles, House Bill 2127 will be found constitutional, and business owners will enjoy a less burdensome regulatory environment,” TAB CEO Glenn Hamer says. “I am thrilled that Houston, our legal department, and sister cities were able to obtain this victory for Texas cities,” says Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The “Death Star Bill,” as its opponents called it, was set to go into effect on Sept. 30, a Travis County judge declared House Bill 2127 unconstitutional after hearing a lawsuit that had been initiated by the city of Houston, joined by San Antonio and El Paso, supported by dozens of large and small municipalities in Texas. This story was co-published with El Paso Matters as part of our joint Equitable Cities Reporting Fellowship For Borderland Narratives. ![]() Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks. This is your first of three free stories this month. ![]()
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