HB 2127, passed during the 2023 Texas legislative session, enables citizens to challenge municipal and county ordinances that are preempted by state law, according to an announcement from the Texas Attorney General's office.
The Attorney General's office has previously taken legal action against cities over ordinances it claims exceed local authority. In past cases, Attorney General Ken Paxton's office has sued Austin over a sick leave ordinance and challenged plastic bag bans.
In previous litigation against Austin's sick leave ordinance in 2018, Paxton stated that "The Austin City Council's disdain and blatant disregard for the rule of law is an attempt to unlawfully and inappropriately usurp the authority of the state lawmakers chosen by Texas voters and must be stopped."
Paxton has also said "Local governments simply cannot selectively ignore state law" and "Municipalities do not get to violate Texas law just because they feel like it."