Texas Judge Strikes Down "Death Star" Preemption Law as Unconstitutional
A Travis County district judge has ruled that the "death star" local preemption bill, which seeks to ban counties and local municipalities from passing ordinances inconsistent with state law, is unconstitutional. The ruling came just two days before the law was set to take effect. The judge declared the bill void and unenforceable, but it remains to be seen whether the state's appeal will stay the court's final judgment. The law's author and supporters argue that it will ensure consistency for businesses, while attorneys for the cities argue that it is vague and designed to create chaos.