Undermining Local Autonomy
SB 1870 would prohibit cities and counties from enacting or maintaining policies that limit the enforcement of state or federal drug laws. It would also impose harsh civil penalties and allow the Texas Attorney General to override local decisions—even those backed by local voters. This bill is a direct assault on local governance, self-determination, and the principle of decentralized government.

Criminal Justice Reform Should Be Local and Voluntary
The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) supports efforts to end the failed War on Drugs and reduce the criminalization of peaceful behavior (Platform § I.1.d). When local communities choose to decriminalize marijuana or deprioritize minor drug enforcement, they are reflecting the will of their residents and protecting civil liberties. SB 1870 seeks to punish these decisions and reassert centralized control, flying in the face of liberty and localism.

A Weaponization of State Power
This bill empowers the Attorney General to sue cities, impose escalating fines of up to $50,000 per violation, and override voter-approved measures. It even abolishes sovereign immunity for local governments, opening the door to further litigation and financial harm. These tactics are coercive and authoritarian—exactly the kind of top-down governance LPTexas opposes.

Harming Texans and Wasting Taxpayer Resources
SB 1870 diverts resources from actual crimes by mandating full enforcement of outdated drug laws, many of which disproportionately harm nonviolent individuals and clog the justice system. It discourages innovation in policing, burdens local budgets with state-imposed mandates, and strips communities of the ability to experiment with sensible reforms.

Conclusion
The Libertarian Party of Texas opposes SB 1870 as an aggressive intrusion into local self-governance and an attack on individual freedom. Texas should protect the rights of communities to chart their own path toward justice—not force them to continue enforcing unjust laws. We urge lawmakers to reject this bill and instead support efforts to end the War on Drugs and restore liberty at every level of government.