SB 3016 – Limits local regulatory overreach

SB 3016 strengthens the state’s ability to rein in rogue local governments that impose costly, inconsistent regulations. It clarifies that cities and counties cannot create their own rules in areas where the state already has authority—especially on land use, business regulation, and annexation. The bill adds strong enforcement provisions, allowing both the Attorney General and affected private parties to hold local governments accountable. Localities that violate the law face meaningful consequences: their tax increases are capped, budgets frozen, and state funds withheld. This helps curb runaway local spending and regulatory overreach that hurts small businesses and taxpayers. By streamlining court procedures and assigning direct oversight to the Texas Supreme Court, the bill reduces delay and litigation abuse. This bill protects against backdoor taxation and bloated local bureaucracy