Latest news with #SenateBill2858
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas bill penalizing cities and counties for progressive policies misses House deadline
A proposal to expand a sweeping state law aimed at stopping Texas cities and counties from adopting progressive policies died Tuesday. Senate Bill 2858 would have given the Texas attorney general the power to sue cities and counties and blow huge holes in their budgets if they adopt local rules the state believes go further than what's allowed under broad swaths of state law. The bill missed a key legislative deadline Tuesday night and died before it could come up for a vote in the Texas House. SB 2858 sought to build on an expansive state law, dubbed the 'Death Star' bill by opponents, that aimed to erode the authority of local officials in the state's urban areas with the aim of stopping them from enacting left-leaning policies — the culmination of a decade-long push by GOP state lawmakers to curtail cities' ability to make policies that advance the progressive agenda or place undue burdens on businesses. The law, passed two years ago, made it illegal for localities to create laws that exceed certain broad areas of state law. Opponents of the law argued it made dealing with day-to-day matters like excessive noise more difficult for localities while laying waste to local labor protections and other policies. A group of cities has challenged the law's constitutionality in court, but the law is in effect. SB 2858 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would have expanded the areas of state law localities couldn't exceed. It also would've given the Texas attorney general the power to sue cities and counties for potential violations of the law. The state would freeze that city or county's sales and property tax revenue, effectively nuking their budget, for as long as the lawsuit lasts. Republican lawmakers argued such measures are necessary to make sure cities and counties are complying with the law. Local leaders and Democratic lawmakers argued the bill would have devastating financial impacts on cities and counties and a chilling effect on localities' ability to serve residents. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New bills proposes added penalties to ‘death star bill'
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Senate committee for business & commerce heard bills aiming to further strengthen the state's ability to enact local governments to comply with enforcing laws consistent with the state on Tuesday. Senate Bill 2858 and Senate Bill 3016 authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R – Conroe, builds off the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, HB 2127, which passed in the 88th Texas Legislature. That bill prohibited local governments from creating laws that conflict or are already covered by state law in their local area. Opponents of HB 2127 dubbed this bill the 'death star' bill. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'Death Star' bill signed by Gov. Abbott, here are some of the impacts in Austin The bill analysis for SB 2858 said it aims to address local governments that have 'taken actions that openly defy state law' and help 'restore uniformity and legal clarity' for 'voters and law enforcement.' 'Despite the [previous] legislation, it has become clear that some cities and counties are still ignoring state laws, and a stronger enforcement mechanism is needed,' said Creighton in the business & commerce committee hearing. 'Fear of reprisal, cost barriers and legal hurdles have shown that this method is simply not enough to keep some of these local governments in line.' Currently, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act mainly allows lawsuits to be filed if a local government violates the act. SB 2858 and SB 3016 would add increased penalties if a local government does not comply with state law, such as withholding tax revenue or grant funding. 'This bill mostly provides an enforcement mechanism to what we previously accomplished with that legislation last session,' Creighton said. City of Georgetown Mayor Joshua Schroeder said he strongly opposes these bills, calling it the 'Return of the Jedi Bill,' which is in reference to how opponents labeled the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act the 'death star bill.' 'The overarching theme that we're most concerned about is the loss of local control and the taking of power and rights from our community,' Schroeder said. Schroeder had emphasized that the impact of the newer punishments in SB 2858 and SB 3016 would greatly impact his city. 'It's going to end up in raising property taxes,' Schroeder said. 'The cost of providing police, fire, water, wastewater and electricity doesn't go down, and so someone has to pay for those items.' Schroeder said that regardless of what happens with these bills, Georgetown's policy is to 'follow state law always and forever' even if they 'may complain about it.' SB 2858 and SB 3016 were left pending in committee on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
