Texas judge blocks bill that would allow state to override local water breaks rules

Republicans' Death Star' law would have hurt many local labor laws, including paid sick leave and mandated water breaks

A Texas judge has ruled that a controversial bill dubbed the Death Star law" is unconstitutional, just days before the law was set to take effect when it would have hurt many local labor laws, including paid sick leave and mandated water breaks for some employees toiling outside in a brutal heatwave.

The state district judge Maya Guerra Gamble issued her decision in response to a lawsuit against Texas filed by the cities of Houston, San Antonio and El Paso. Gamble agreed with arguments made by the cities that the bill is vague and unclear on which ordinances the municipalities must cancel before it was set to take effect.