Paid Leave Preemption: Fort Worth vs Keller
How do paid leave preemption rules compare between Fort Worth, TX and Keller, TX?
Fort Worth and Keller have similar restriction levels.
Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Texas HB 4 (2023), the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, preempts city paid-leave mandates. Fort Worth never enacted a paid-leave ordinance, and any future attempt would be voided. No state mandate exists, so paid leave is left to employer policy and federal FMLA.
View full Fort Worth rules →Keller, TX
Tarrant County
Texas appellate courts have struck down municipal paid sick leave ordinances in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio as preempted under the Texas Minimum Wage Act. HB 2127 (2023) further codifies preemption by barring local regulation of employment benefits and leave policies.
View full Keller rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fort Worth | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Texas preemption law | HB 4 (2023) Regulatory Consistency Act | - |
| Fort Worth ordinance status | Never enacted | - |
| Federal backstop | FMLA unpaid leave only | - |
| State paid-leave mandate | None enacted | - |
| Employer obligation | Voluntary policy only | - |
| Key Case | - | TAB v. City of Austin 2018 |
| Statute | - | Labor Code 62.0515 |
| HB 2127 Coverage | - | Employment field |
| Cities Affected | - | Austin, Dallas, San Antonio |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fort Worth FAQ
Do Fort Worth employers have to provide paid sick leave?
No. Fort Worth never enacted a paid sick leave ordinance, and Texas HB 4 (2023) now preempts cities from doing so. No state mandate exists, leaving paid leave to private employer policy.
Is any Fort Worth leave protection in force?
Federal FMLA gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave at employers with 50-plus employees. Fort Worth adds no paid or unpaid leave rights for private employees beyond federal law.
Keller FAQ
Can a Texas city require employers to give paid sick leave?
No. Courts have ruled mandatory paid sick leave ordinances are preempted as wage regulation, and HB 2127 reinforces this preemption across the employment field.
Can employers voluntarily offer paid sick leave?
Yes. The preemption only blocks government mandates. Employers may offer any paid leave benefits voluntarily and many do for recruitment and retention.
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