Judge blocks Texas bill to prevent cities from enacting progressive laws
Brady Knox
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A judge blocked a Texas law that attempted to keep cities from enacting progressive laws.
State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that House Bill 2127, derisively nicknamed the “Death Star” bill by opponents, is unconstitutional, the Texas Tribune reported. The ruling came two days before it was to take effect on Friday. Democratic mayors celebrated the ruling, saying it was a much-needed victory in Republicans’ “war on cities.”
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“The Governor’s and Legislature’s ongoing war on such home-rule cities hurts the State and its economy, discourages new transplants from other states, and thwarts the will of Texas voters who endowed these cities in the Texas Constitution with full rights to self-government and local innovation,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. “This self-defeating war on cities needs to end.”
Texas Republicans appeared optimistic, however, with the bill’s sponsor expressing confidence that an appeal would easily overturn Gamble’s ruling.
“The judgment today by a Democrat Travis County District Judge is not worth the paper it’s printed on,” state Rep. Dustin Burrows said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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“The Texas Supreme Court will ultimately rule this law to be completely valid. The ruling today has no legal effect or precedent, and should deter no Texan from availing themselves of their rights when HB2127 becomes law on September 1, 2023,” he added.
https://twitter.com/Burrows4TX/status/1696927913394815332?s=20
Republicans have largely framed the law as targeted toward Democrat cities’ laws restricting businesses, arguing that it harms the economy.