"Texas Legislature Considers Limiting Local Authority and Expanding State Control"

The Texas legislature is considering two bills that would prevent cities and counties from passing or enforcing local rules on environmental, safety, and discrimination issues unless explicitly authorized by statute. The proposed legislation builds on nearly a decade of state Republican attacks on the autonomy of Texas cities. The bills would allow state-wide businesses to negotiate environmental and labor issues exclusively with the Republican-dominated state government, rather than the comparatively liberal cities. Unions and advocates of the new legislation argue that the proposed bills would strip workers of their rights and hurt businesses.