The New Republic, April 17, 2024, The Republican Plot To Roast Outdoor Workers
In the absence of federal action, various localities and even some states (California, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon) have moved to regulate workers’ heat exposure. But after Dallas and Austin imposed their own municipal heat exposure rules, the Republican-controlled Texas state legislature moved to thwart these efforts by passing H.B. 2127. Governor Greg Abbott signed it last June, during a heat wave. Like DeSantis, Abbott showed a disinclination to take credit. Such reticence makes me wonder whether GOP-mandated heat stroke could be a potent political issue for Democrats this fall.
As Florida did last week, Texas barred local governments from imposing regulations to limit heat exposure, making the same “patchwork of regulations” argument—even though Texas, like Florida, has no statewide regulation on heat exposure and no intention of creating one. Texas is not the hottest state—it doesn’t even crack Payless Power’s top three—but it does enjoy the distinction of killing the most workers from heat exposure, according to The Texas Tribune, at least for the years 2011 to 2022. Its passage of H.B. 2127, which took effect in September, will presumably help it keep the title.
