Some Bexar County residents are part of a group that is trying to stop legislation that would allow the state to override local government ordinances. The bipartisan coalition is on its way to the State Capitol on Tuesday.
Bills in the Texas House and Senate, if approved, would limit the ability of local governments to pass ordinances or policies without the approval of the Texas Attorney General or state lawmakers.
The group Local Control Texas, which includes representatives from cities and counties, wants any legislation of this nature to be dropped. Linda Hardberger, the wife of former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, and a volunteer with the group, said the legislation could eliminate local legislation like San Antonio’s tree preservation ordinance, the Denton Fracking Ban, or Ft. Stockton’s plastic bag ban.
“That’s something that they voted for. It’s not imposed. It’s not taking away our liberties. Doing away with local control is taking away our liberty, not passing an ordinance that says we don’t want stores to have plastic bags. It seems to be me like a total reversal. We have to be able to rule ourselves.”
Hardberger said she was shocked to see Gov. Greg Abbott take a stand against certain aspects of local control.“I don’t quite understand why the legislature is so terrified of us local citizens. We elected them, we kind of know what we’re doing.”
One House bill challenging local controls is scheduled for a committee hearing on Wednesday.
