Texas Bill Could Ban Local LGBTQ Rights Ordinances

The Texas Tribune reports:

In a major escalation of Republicans’ efforts to weaken the state’s bluer cities and counties, lawmakers in the Texas Legislature are advancing a pair of bills that would seize control of local regulations that could range from worker protections to water restrictions during droughts.

A bill backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and business lobbying groups, House Bill 2127, would bar cities and counties from passing regulations — and overturn existing ones — that go further than state law in a broad swath of areas including labor, agriculture, natural resources and finance.

Democrats sought explicit carve outs for local laws including nondiscrimination ordinances and protections against workplace sexual harassment but those measures failed.

Read the full article.

Bill sponsor Rep. Dustin Burrows [photo] first appeared here for his successful bill designating gun stores as “essential businesses” during the COVID lockdown.

The Texas House approved a pair of bills that would seize control of local regulations that could range from worker protections to water restrictions during droughts by a 92-56 vote. It’s the Texas GOP’s latest attempt to weaken bluer cities and counties. https://t.co/eOE1EEYE7U

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) April 19, 2023