City of Dallas Faces Lawsuit Over Death Star Law

The City of Dallas is facing a lawsuit that could overturn more than 80 local ordinances accused of conflicting with state law under Texas’ sweeping Regulatory Consistency Act, also known as the “Death Star” law.

Filed in Denton County District Court by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), an Austin-based conservative think tank, the lawsuit represents three Dallas residents —Haley Kyles, Tamara Brown, and Daniel Rodriguez— who alleged the city regulations have caused them harm.

The complaint targets 83 city rules covering areas such as local labor standards, environmental regulations, minimum wage requirements for city contractors, nondiscrimination protections, and restrictions on gas drilling. The plaintiffs argue these measures exceed the city’s authority and contradict state law.

“Cities don’t get to pick and choose which state laws they follow,” said TPPF senior attorney Matthew Chiarizio. “For too long, Dallas has piled unnecessary and duplicative regulations on its citizens. The Legislature has rightly preempted those rules, and this lawsuit is about protecting Texans’ freedom to live and work without being smothered by layers of needless local regulation.”

The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, approved in 2023 and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, limits the ability of cities and counties to adopt rules stricter than state standards in broad policy areas. Supporters say it reduces regulatory burdens on businesses, while critics argue it strips local governments of their ability to address community needs.

The Texas Tribune reports that a Travis County judge initially ruled the law unconstitutional, but that decision was reversed by the Third Court of Appeals in July 2024, clearing the way for lawsuits like this one to proceed.

According to The Dallas Morning News, the TPPF had warned the City of Dallas months earlier that it could face legal action if it did not revise ordinances seen as conflicting with the state law. A 2023 memo from city officials to state Rep. Rafael Anchia had identified more than 130 local regulations that could be affected.

If successful, the case could eliminate a wide range of Dallas policies, including rules governing ride-hailing, gas production, and park noise limits, marking one of the most significant tests yet of the state’s new preemption law.