In a move that critics say reeks of desperation, Texas lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 2299 (SB 2299) — legislation that appears tailor-made to help the City of Dallas sidestep the clear intent of voters who passed Proposition S last November, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The bill, authored by Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas), would prohibit home-rule cities like Dallas from adopting or amending city charters to alter governmental immunity—a core component of Prop S, which passed with strong voter support. The new legislation also requires the Texas Legislature to approve any charter change related to immunity before it can even go to a vote.
In short, the state is stepping in to protect the status quo of municipal power — not to serve voters but to shield city officials from accountability.
“This is a ham-fisted power grab dressed up as legislative oversight,” said Dallas HERO Executive Director Damien LeVeck. “Dallas voters made their voices heard with Prop S. Now the City — and Sen. Johnson — want to silence them.”
Proposition S was a grassroots response to years of frustration with unaccountable city leadership. It aimed to open the door for greater legal and financial consequences when the city violates the rights of its residents.
But under S.B. 2299, even proposing such a reform would be illegal without first begging permission from the very political establishment the measure sought to hold accountable.
The bill amends several sections of the Local Government Code, expanding a previously narrow definition of “restricted charter provisions”—initially aimed at climate policy—to now include any attempt to change a city’s governmental immunity.
The net effect? A massive restriction on local self-governance.
City leaders may claim this is about protecting municipal sovereignty. However, critics argue that the real goal is to neuter citizen-driven reforms and protect bureaucrats from legal exposure.
The irony? A city that touts itself as progressive and democratic is now actively working to block the people from governing themselves.
This effort is expected to face strong opposition in the Texas House and could go down in flames — but not before revealing just how far Dallas officials are willing to go to preserve their power.