Abbott endorses idea of broad law to pre-empt local regulations

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that he would support a broad law allowing the state to preempt local ordinances and regulations. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that he would support a broad law allowing the state to preempt local ordinances and regulations. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg Photo: Michael Nagle Photo: Michael Nagle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Abbott endorses idea of broad law to pre-empt local regulations 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott suggested Tuesday it would be good for the Texas Legislature to pass a broad law saying that state rules always preempt local regulations.

"As opposed to the state having to take multiple rifle-shot approaches at overriding local regulations, I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to preempt local regulations, is a superior approach," Abbott said at an event hosted by a think tank in Corpus Christi, adding that such a law would be "more simple, more elegant, but more importantly, provides greater advance notice to businesses and to individuals that you're going to have the certainty to run your lives."

Abbott's comments were delivered during a question-and-answer event hosted by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute. They were first reported by the Texas Tribune. The Houston Chronicle later received an audio recording of the event.

The comments come at a time when state lawmakers increasingly have found themselves involved in fights over local regulations in relation to everything from fracking and so-called "sanctuary cities" to ride-sharing companies and bathroom access. Regulations and ordinances on those topics have been implemented by an array of Texas cities, sparking frustration among conservatives at the state level.

No "broad-based law" has been introduced in the Legislature, and -- because the bill filing deadline has passed -- no such proposal will be this session. However, the governor's comments offer a potential path for the future.

The comments drew quick support from conservatives, including the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based think tank that quickly issued a statement.

"The greatest threats to liberty and property rights are happening at the local level," said James Quintero, director of the foundation's Center for Local Governance. "Governor Abbott is absolutely correct in calling for broad-based reforms to the kinds of economic regulations that local governments can impose."

Liberal condemned the remarks, saying they revealed an inappropriate desire by the governor to take over everything in the state.

"Will local governments then be but agencies of the state under Abbott's total control?" wondered aloud Glenn Smith, director of the political arm of Progress Texas, a liberal advocacy group, on Twitter. "Local voters be damned?"

Critics also have railed against the push by the Texas GOP to restrict local regulations as hypocritical. Conservatives in the state often rail against what they call "federal government overreach" but then do their own overreach at the state level, critics contend.

Abbott also responded to that argument Tuesday.

"Economic freedom in this country rests not with the federal government, not with state government, not with local government," he said. "If you really want to talk about local control, you reduce it to the lowest common denominator and that is the individual."