#TXLEGE: Senate further restricts rogue local governments while House creates new occupational license....

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

While the "Senate good/House bad" narrative can be a bit of an oversimplification, the product of yesterday's respective floor sessions speak for themselves.

On the Senate side, the passed SB 715 (Campbell):

Relating to municipal annexation.

Campbell's bill would abolish involuntary annexation at the municipal level.  Involuntary annexation is a bad idea that has grown increasingly abusive in recent years.   This continues the Senate's trend this session of cracking down on municipal nonsense.

TPPF released this statement on Campbell's bill:

“Forced annexation is undemocratic and un-Texan,” said James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance. “Letting cities annex people without their consent robs those Texans of the right to decide what kind of government they want. Today’s passage of SB 715 by the Senate helps to right this terrible wrong.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the building, the House passed HB 1260 (Phelan):

Relating to the regulation of commercial shrimp unloading; requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee.

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

Jonathan Stickland explains why this is an awful bill in a recent "Bad Bill of the week" segment:



Highlights:

• Bill creates new authority for unaccountable taxation from unelected bureaucrats.
• Occupational licensing is a barrier to entry.
• Violates RPT platform; we should be repealing occupational licensing not creating new ones.

Stickland offered three amendments that would have solved the problem Phelan's claimed his bill was attempting to address in a free market manner.  Unfortunately, all three were overwhelmingly voted down.  Thus did the House put itself on record supporting fewer jobs and higher cost of living.

Bottom Line: Honestly, the difference between these two bills speaks for itself.