Texas Wrests Power From Local Governments With Sweeping New Law
Unprecedented state legislation could override city laws in policy areas ranging from workers’ rights and housing to finance and agriculture.
The left-leaning Texas capital of Austin is one of several state metro areas to see substantial growth over the last several years. A new state law will prevent the city from making its own laws on a range of topics.
Photographer: Callaghan O'Hare/BloombergCome Sept. 1, construction workers in Austin and Dallas will no longer be able to count on city laws guaranteeing water breaks. Tenants facing eviction during a natural disaster like the ice storm that struck Houston in 2021 could be left on the street. And some cities that try to pass local laws regulating noise or limiting lawn-watering could land in court.
These are among dozens of local policies that could be targeted by a sweeping new Texas law that limits the power of cities to make their own rules. The unprecedented legislation, which was signed by Governor Greg Abbott, prohibits cities from enforcing or creating regulations that are stronger than the state’s in broad policy areas including labor, finance, agriculture, occupations, property and natural resources.