The States Strike Back: How “Death Star Bills” Erode Local Autonomy
Not so long ago, in a state legislature not too far away, politicians began crafting bills to crush local authority. Dubbed “Death Star bills” by critics, these legislative maneuvers are wielded by state governments to override the laws of local communities with dissenting viewpoints. Many of these laws have been passed by Republican state legislators to thwart the more progressive policies passed by local Democratic officials.
Death Star bills have encompassed a wide range of issues. Many, however, are focused on obstructing local legislation concerning environmental matters such as energy and land usage. The origins of such bills can be traced back several years. In 2015, Wisconsin, under Republican Governor Scott Walker, passed Wisconsin Act 302. It prohibits local governments—including cities, towns, and villages—from imposing bans or restrictions on the use of single-use containers, including plastic bags. Consequently, Wisconsin municipalities have been legally hamstrung from passing legislation to reduce their communities’ usage of single-use items.
The deployment of Death Star bills has become increasingly egregious. According to the Local Solutions Support Center, state legislatures across the country drafted nearly 400 such bills in 2023. Many of them have already been enacted. Texas Senate Bill 784, for instance, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in May, prevents cities from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, Texas Senate Bill 1017 prohibits cities from banning engines based on their fuel type, a response to the city of Dallas’s proposal to reduce the usage of gas-powered engines. In South Carolina, state legislators have even dictated whom municipalities can contract with. South Carolina House Bill 3564 prevents municipalities from opting not to contract with companies that invest in fossil fuels.
The hypocrisy of Republicans’ Death Star bills is not lost on many. Traditionally advocating for local autonomy and “small government,” Republicans seem to have strayed far from their fundamental philosophies.
While I may not always agree with the legislation passed by local Democratic or Republican officials, I respect and understand that each city and small town has unique needs and preferences. Republican legislators, however, have clearly shown that they believe they know better than local communities and their officials. While this may initially succeed for state legislatures, it poses a dangerous precedent. What’s to stop Democratic legislatures from instituting similar laws? If Republicans continue to pass Death Star bills, this could—and will likely—lead to a game of vengeful politics, where Republican legislatures attempt to crush local Democratic authority, while Democratic legislatures retaliate against local Republican autonomy. Before this escalates further, state legislatures should reconsider passing future Death Star bills. As Star Wars has shown us, local resistance can be powerful, and Death Stars don’t fare too well.
Zach Yiannias – RCC National Environment Leadership Fellow – Rice University
RCC Fellow Zach Yiannias is a junior at Rice University studying political science, environmental sciences, and history. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he is interested in local politics as well as environmental and energy policy. He is currently researching hydrogen energy as a Gulf Scholar with the Carbon Hub and GTI Energy.
