NEWS BRIEFS O cial hints at new industries coming to WilCo
News from Williamson County & Texas
State’s largest city sues over ‘death star’ bill
“THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY, SO THE NEXT TIME THERE’S A RECESSION .. WE DON’T JUST TANK.”
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
new ordinances in response to changing or complex needs as well as fears the bill could leave cities vulnerable to litigation. The details: HB 2127—also called the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act by its supporters and referred to as the “death star” bill by its opponents—prohibits cities and counties from adopting ordinances that go beyond what state law already allows in several key areas. It also allows “any person who has sustained an injury in fact, actual or threatened” from a violating ordinance to bring legal action against the city or county.
The city of Houston led a lawsuit July 3 challenging the constitu- tionality of a new law in Texas that limits how cities and counties can govern themselves across a variety of government codes. The overview: The law, set to go into eect Sept. 1, stems from House Bill 2127, authored by State Rep. Dustin Burrows, RLubbock, during the 2023 legislative session and passed on a largely party- line vote. Concerns over the bill revolve around how it could kneecap cities by prohibiting them from passing
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Along with the inux of new resi- dents in Williamson County, economic leaders are expecting an increase in new industries coming to the area in the next several years. Dave Porter, executive director of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, said during a Georgetown Chamber of Commerce luncheon June 13 the scope and magnitude of potential companies to establish operations in Williamson County “is astonishing.” So far this year, Williamson County has formed an agreement with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Per the deal, the two entities will work together to advise new Korean companies looking to invest in Williamson County. During a trip to South
DAVE PORTER, WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Korea, Porter said the delegation of county ocials was told around 100-150 semiconductor industry suppliers are interested in establish- ing locations in Central Texas. Porter said the county is planning to make an announcement about a new auto part manufacturer from Korea that has chosen to set up shop in the county. Meanwhile, a urry of other companies from a variety of industries is interested in moving to the area, according to Porter.
AFFECTED AREAS House Bill 2127 would
Labor Local government Natural resources Occupation Property
Agriculture Business and commerce Finance Insurance
restrict cities from adopting local governing ordinances separate from state laws in several areas, including: SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINECOMMUNITY IMPACT
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