Spiller: Local control bill won’t affect Olney

A controversial new law designed to curtail powers traditionally afforded home-rule cities by forcing them to abide by state regulations will not affect the City of Olney but could change the way six other cities in the 68th Texas House District operate, Rep. David Spiller said.

The bill sponsors said the measure was necessary so that small businesses can operate under consistent regulations rather than what they characterized as a “patchwork” of rules. Cities in Texas are classified as general law or home rule, with a few exceptions. Olney is a general law city, meaning that it cannot pass ordinances contrary to state law, according to the Texas Municipal League. Once a general law city reaches the 5,001 inhabitants mark, it can hold an election to adopt a home rule charter giving it the power to govern itself so long as charter provisions or ordinances are not inconsistent with state or federal law.

“That won’t affect Olney, Texas at all,” Mr. Spiller (R-Jacksboro) said. “Graham is home rule but I am not aware of anything Graham is doing that is violating state law.”

The bill was backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and business lobbying groups. It will overturn existing rules and prevent home-rule cities from creating new ones that are tighter than state law in labor, agriculture, natural resources, and finance.

Sen. Drew Springer (R-Olney) introduced similar legislation called “The Texas Commerce Act.”

“Commerce is between the business and the individual and regulations on businesses should be standard statewide,” Mr. Springer said in December. “Some large cities have begun to pass liberal east coast union policies that not only affect businesses in their city but bleed over to affecting them at their locations across the state.”