Dallas County, TX Employment Preemption: Paid Leave Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- State preemption
- TX HB 2127 (2023)
- Earlier ruling
- TX appellate courts blocked Dallas
- Statewide mandate
- None for private employers
- County employees
- Paid leave by personnel rule
- Federal floor
- FMLA unpaid only
Summary
Texas HB 2127, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act effective September 2023, broadly preempts local labor regulation including paid sick leave. Dallas County cannot mandate paid leave for private employers.
History for 88(R) HB 2127 by Burrows. Last Action: 06/14/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23. Caption Version: Enrolled. Caption Text: Relating to state preemption of and the effect of certain state or federal law on certain municipal and county regulation. Author: Burrows | Meyer | Goldman | King, Ken | Raymond. Sponsor: Creighton. Subjects: City Government--General (I0060); Civil Remedies & Liabilities (I0065); County Government--General (I0096); Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions (I0541); TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT (PH2OW). Companion: SB 814 by Creighton, Identical. House Committee: State Affairs. House Committee Status: Out of committee. House Committee Vote: Ayes=8 Nays=3 Present Not Voting=0 Absent=2. Senate Committee: Business & Commerce. Senate Committee Status: Out of committee. Senate Committee Vote: Ayes=6 Nays=2 Present Not Voting=0 Absent=3. Actions: E Effective on 9/1/23 06/14/2023; E Signed by the Governor 06/14/2023; E Sent to the Governor 05/24/2023; S Signed in the Senate 05/23/2023; H Signed in the House 05/22/2023; H Reported enrolled 05/20/2023; H House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported 05/19/2023; S Passed 05/16/2023; S Read 3rd time 05/16/2023; H Passed 04/19/2023; H Read 3rd time 04/19/2023; H Passed to engrossment as amended 04/18/2023; H Read 2nd time 04/18/2023; H Placed on Major State Calendar 04/18/2023; H Referred to State Affairs 03/09/2023; H Read first time 03/09/2023; H Filed 02/09/2023.
Full Breakdown
HB 2127 (often called the Death Star bill) preempts cities and counties from regulating in fields covered by state labor, business, and finance codes, including paid sick leave, scheduling, and benefits. Earlier paid-sick-leave ordinances passed by Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas were already blocked by Texas appellate courts before HB 2127, and the new law forecloses any future county mandate. Dallas County has no countywide paid sick leave ordinance and may not adopt one. Texas does not provide a statewide paid sick leave law for private employers either. Dallas County provides paid leave to its own approximately 7,000 employees as a personnel benefit, but that policy does not extend to private workers.
Violations & Fines
No local paid sick leave mandate exists to violate. Workers seeking leave rely on federal FMLA unpaid leave (50-plus employers), employer policy, or a union contract. No county enforcement mechanism applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dallas County require my employer to give paid sick days?
Can I take unpaid leave when I am sick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas employment preemption overview
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