Texas Senate Bill SJR7

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

• Filed: 11/14/16

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the execution or enforcement of federal laws that violate the Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution.

Impact

The proposed amendment seeks significant alterations in how Texas interacts with federal laws. Specifically, it allows the legislature to officially determine whether a federal law violates the Texas Constitution's Bill of Rights. If such a violation is determined, state agencies and political subdivisions would be prohibited from executing such federal laws. This could effectively create a broader legal gap between state and federal authority, pending legislative findings.

Summary

SJR7 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that addresses the execution or enforcement of federal laws deemed to violate the Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution. The resolution asserts the state's policy to refuse participation in any federal law execution that the Texas legislature finds to infringe upon its constitutional rights. This initiative aims to reinforce state sovereignty and create a framework for evaluating federal laws against state constitutional standards.

Contention

Debate surrounding SJR7 may revolve around its implications for state-federal relations and the legislative power's reach. Proponents argue that the resolution enhances Texas's ability to protect its citizens from potentially overreaching federal policies, encouraging state autonomy. Opponents, however, may raise concerns that the amendment could foster legal uncertainty and jeopardize cooperation between state and federal governments, possibly undermining essential federal programs and regulations.