The Texas Senate on Monday passed a bill to prevent cities and counties from passing or enforcing any local policy that exceeds minimum requirements set by state laws.
If House Bill 2127 is signed into law, cities and counties would no longer be able to adopt or enforce ordinances or orders designed to protect residents from drought conditions, overgrown lots, dangerous animals, predatory lending businesses, controlled burns and local sporting events. The bill would also nullify some rules made to protect workers.
The bill's language states that its intention is to "provide statewide consistency" by returning sovereign regulatory powers to the State. But some local organizations and elected officials have criticized HB 2127.