The Eagle: Tom Kenney Writes Article About the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act AKA “Death Star Bill”
Texas Needs Regulatory Consistency
Written by Tom Kenney
Opponents to the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act — namely city regulators — have dubbed the bill the “Death Star Bill.”
A bill analysis of the act says, “Cities and towns need relief from the pressure to duplicate state regulatory and enforcement efforts. Additionally, job creators need a baseline of regulatory consistency across the state that allows them to focus their resources on growing their businesses and increasing their economic impact to the betterment of their employees, their communities, and the state, rather than dealing with unnecessary regulatory compliance.”
Introduced by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, the bill would ensure small business owners have greater certainty in the regulatory landscape of our great state.
For several years, the business community has banded together to pass similar legislation. But this bill offers Texas employers a new hope.
Regrettably, far too many members of the media have taken the side of city regulators, suggesting that the bill would strip cities of their power, undermine pioneering public service, and cause confusion for city and county officials.
But nothing is said about the patchwork of overregulation, which is the real “Death Star” for Texas job creators — threatening our businesses and livelihoods.
Under pressure from stormtroopers, also known as environmental and labor advocacy groups, city councils have gone outside their lanes to pass sweeping ordinances. Though reasonable people can differ on the merits of these mandates — from paid leave and predictive scheduling — each comes with a cost to the small business owner.
Asking mom-and-pop shops to keep up with every ordinance passed across more than 1,200 municipalities — on top of state and federal regulations — is akin to carbon-freezing local job creators. The regulatory inconsistency is paralyzing, making it harder to do business across the galaxy of our state.
Imagine if you owned a plumbing or air conditioning business in College Station and you had a service call in Bryan. If Bryan requires different labor laws than College Station, a business would not be in compliance in one city or the other.
Even more, imagine if you are Southwest Airlines flying to different cities in Texas and each city requires different labor laws for flight attendants and pilots.
Let’s face it, some city councils in Texas will pass laws that defy logic, reason and common sense.
It’s worth noting that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing two-thirds of all new jobs in Texas. These businesses also contribute significantly to the state’s tax base. In 2020, small businesses in Texas paid more than $1.3 billion in state taxes alone.
The “Empire” is attempting to strike back, with city council members hemming and hawing to the media about the bill’s potential effects on their regulatory powers.
Job creators have little patience for the lament of city officials who fear this bill would cause some confusion. Unlike when a handful of cities passed a paid leave ordinance and small business owners were left in a tailspin, these officials have attorneys and compliance offers at their disposal to determine the bill’s ramifications.
But rest assured, local control is retained, which is why it advanced out of the Texas House with bipartisan support.
We need a regulatory environment that is fair and consistent so that we can grow our business and contribute to the state’s economy.
The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act would provide us with the tools we need to do just that.
Overregulation is the real “Death Star” for Texans. The Texas Legislature must side with the Rebel Alliance and stand up for small business owners by sending the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act to Gov. Abbott for his swift signature.
