The Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act’s protections against forced annexation should be extended to every corner of the state—not just to Texans residing in the largest counties.

Key points:

  • Texas has periodically revised its annexation laws in light of the controversy, but the Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act is the first significant curtailment of forced annexation.
  • The new law requires tier 2 municipalities to obtain consent through election or petition before annexation.
  • Texas ought to extend the new law’s protections against forced annexation to every Texan, regardless of where they reside.
  • In the near term, registered voters can achieve this by petitioning every non-affected county to hold an election to be classified as a tier 2 county under the new annexation law.
  • In the long term, state legislators can amend the Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act to prohibit any forced annexation by any city.

2018 02 AnnexationRepresentation CLG Mathew by texaspolicy on Scribd