Judge Blocks Texas ‘Death Star’ Preemption Law, AG Appeals (2)

A judge has ruled to block a Texas law designed to preempt a wide swath of local ordinances two days before it was due to take effect, though disagreement remains on whether an appeal would still permit the law to be implemented starting this week.

The state attorney general’s office said its immediate appeal stays the judge’s Wednesday decision and lets the law become effective Sept. 1 as scheduled. But the mayor and city attorney in Houston, which sued to challenge the law, disagreed and said the ruling blocks the law while the appeal is pending.

The law (HB ...