Legislator's son 'disappointed' at dad's bill that would ban LGBT protection laws

Rick Miller, former chairman of the Fort Bend Republican Party Rick Miller, former chairman of the Fort Bend Republican Party Photo: Handout Photo: Handout Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Legislator's son 'disappointed' at dad's bill that would ban LGBT protection laws 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

A Houston attorney and gay activist says he's "extremely disappointed" at a bill introduced in the Texas Legislature by his father.

House Bill 1556, filed by state Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, would stop a city, county or other political subdivision from passing or enforcing any regulation that creates a protected class on a basis not already covered by state law.

Miller's son, Beau Miller, told the Texas Observer he's disappointed at the proposed legislation and confirmed his reaction in an email to the Houston Chronicle.

Although not stated in HB 1556, the most obvious targets here -- bases not already covered by state law -- would be sexual orientation and gender expression. If passed, the bill would mean the end of Houston's hotly contested equal rights ordinance and similar measures in other Texas cities.

"If the bill progresses through the Legislature, I'm sure there will be a robust conversation about the impact not only on minority communities, such as the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) community, but also on local rule in Texas," Beau Miller told the Texas Observer.

The text of the bill does not refer to LGBT issues but speaks of what's good for business.

Known as the Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act, House Bill 1556 includes the stated purpose "to improve intrastate commerce by ensuring that businesses, organizations and employers doing business in this state are stubject to uniform nondiscrimnqion laws and obligations...."

Uniform laws will benefit business and will attract new firms to Texas, the proposed bill states.

If passed by a two-thirds majority of both houses, the bill would take effect immediately, according to the text. If passed by less than a two-thirds majority, it would take effect Sept. 15.