by Christian Betancourt, El Paso Matters
August 14, 2023
In 2015, El Paso became the second city in the country to safeguard its workers by passing a historic wage theft ordinance. Now, as a sweeping new state law aimed at handicapping Texas’ more liberal city governments is set to take effect Sept. 1, that protection is facing an existential threat.
House Bill 2127 — also known as the Super Preemption Bill or the “Death Star Law” among opponents — aims to regulate many aspects of commerce and trade in local jurisdictions that differ from state-imposed directives.
Passed in May during the 88th Legislative session and signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott a month later, the preemption law could affect local policies dealing with ordinances – including agriculture, insurance, labor, natural resources, and occupation codes — that contradict the state.
“The purpose of this Act is to provide regulatory consistency across this state and return the historic exclusive regulatory powers to the state where those powers belong,” reads the bill, introduced to the state’s Republican-controlled legislature.
But opponents believe its aim is to weaken bluer cities and some counties' ability to regulate their industries and enact progressive policies. Abbott’s office did not respond to El Paso Matters’ questions about the need for HB 2127 or its benefits.
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