Texas Gov. Greg Abbott passed a series of pro-law enforcement legislations intended to "back the blue" on June 1.
The legislation stops cities and counties from defunding law enforcement or related organizations, as well as stiffens punishments for protestors who harm officers or disturb their work.
“The men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to keep Texans safe, and they deserve our enduring support and gratitude,” Abbott said on his site. “Efforts to defund the police are downright dangerous, and these laws will prevent cities from making this reckless decision. These laws also help protect our law enforcement officers in the line of duty.”
The purported centerpiece of the bills, House Bill 1900, orders the state's larger cities not to cut police funding. Cities of a population over 250,000 could have part of their sales taxes appropriated to pay expenses for the Texas Department of Public Safety. They would also be prevented from increasing property taxes and utility rates.
House Bill 9, which requires jail time for people who knowingly block emergency vehicles or hospital entrances received the governor's support after a California sheriff's department said two police officers were shot and that protestors blocked a hospital emergency entrance to prevent them from receiving treatment.
House Bill 2366 enforces a ban on fireworks and laser pointers used to injure police or interfere with police work, while Senate Bill 23, which applies only to cities of over 1 million residents, requires elections before altering law enforcement budgets.
The legislations were signed amid a ceremony, which included bill creators, police officers, and other experts related to the field.
But not everyone supported Abbott's stance.
“No matter how much Gov. Abbott wants to send us backward, he can’t send us back to 2019 before George Floyd was murdered,” Austin city council member Greg Casar told KVUE. “In Austin, we will continue to work to address violence, including violence committed by police. We will work to make sure our budget conforms with the new law, and also conforms with the values of this community. We will continue our march toward racial justice, police accountability, and comprehensive safety no matter what.”