The bill establishes state preemption over municipal and county regulations concerning commerce, trade, elections, and criminal justice, reinforcing the state's exclusive regulatory authority in these areas as outlined in the Texas Constitution. It allows local jurisdictions to retain certain powers, such as road construction and public awareness campaigns, while requiring them to amend existing ordinances to align with new state regulations. The bill also introduces provisions under Chapter 102A of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, enabling individuals or trade associations harmed by conflicting local regulations to pursue private actions against municipalities or counties, with the burden of proof placed on the local entities.

Furthermore, the bill amends various sections of the Election Code, Health and Safety Code, Local Government Code, and Penal Code to prohibit municipalities and counties from adopting or enforcing any regulations that conflict with state laws unless explicitly authorized. It includes a provision for the comptroller to send any balance from a suspense account to municipalities or counties that win legal actions under Section 102A.052, along with accrued interest. The bill specifies that its provisions apply only to causes of action accruing after its effective date, includes a severability clause, and grants the Texas Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to the Act, which will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 1.08 (Penal Code 1)