It’s Rightly Decided live from the 2026 Texas Policy Summit! The Texas Public Policy Foundation is on the front lines of the legal war over the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act (Texas House Bill 2127), better known as the “Death Star” Bill. Designed to eliminate the confusing patchwork of local regulations across Texas, the law has sparked intense opposition from major cities—and now, historic lawsuits from citizens themselves.
We are joined by two key figures in this unfolding legal drama:
— Haley Kyles: A Dallas resident and lead plaintiff in the first major citizen-led enforcement lawsuit under HB 2127. Haley discusses why she stepped forward as a client in the Death Star litigation to challenge dozens of Dallas ordinances that she argues are unconstitutionally preempted by state law.
— Ben Crockett: A Policy Scholar at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and expert on local government issues. Ben breaks down the policy intent behind the bill, how it aims to protect small businesses, and the mechanics of its implementation.
In this episode, we discuss:
— How the law allows private citizens—not just the state—to sue their local governments for failing to repeal preempted rules.
— What “Death Star” implementation looks like on the ground for taxpayers and property owners.
— The future of local control in Texas and the legal precedents these lawsuits will set for the entire state.