Local Progress Texas, Texas AFL-CIO, Every Texan, ACLU of Texas & Workers Defense Project Celebrate Win for Local Democracy
In response to the ruling of the Travis County Civil District Court in the case of The City of Houston v. Texas, Texas AFL-CIO , Local Progress Texas, Every Texan, ACLU of Texas, and Workers Defense Project released the following statement:
Today, we celebrate our powerful communities across the great state of Texas. The overturning of HB 2127 – otherwise known as the ‘Death Star Law’ – represents the power of our localities, our local elected officials, and the communities they represent. Since this harmful legislation was introduced last spring, everyday Texans – community members, workers, and local leaders alike – have been sounding the alarm.
Texas is a home-rule state, built on the values of local democracy and freedom. The Death Star Law directly contradicts those values by prioritizing corporate interests and undermining local democracy and progress through preemption. When local policymaking is stifled, community voices are silenced. This ruling allows life-saving policies – like rest breaks for construction workers – to remain in place, enabling local leaders to respond to their communities’ urgent needs.
We celebrate this win while also acknowledging that the fight is far from over. The Death Star Law is part of a nationwide trend of conservative state legislatures using preemption as a tool to undermine local policies that protect vulnerable Americans and concentrate power in the hands of extreme lawmakers and their corporate interests. We hope that the Texas Supreme Court will uphold this decision to protect local democracy.
Today, we celebrate this win for Texas communities across the state. Tomorrow, we continue to fight abusive state preemption that silences communities.
About Every Texan
Every Texan believes that social justice requires public policy. Since its founding in 1985, Every Texan (formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities) has leveraged public policy to expand opportunity and equity for Texans of all backgrounds. Every Texan is an independent nonprofit organization that researches, analyzes, and advocates for public policies to achieve equitable access to quality health care, food security, education, and good jobs. Our bold, research-driven legislative priorities dare Texas leaders to make Texas the best state for hard-working people and their families. Learn more at everytexan.org.