AG Paxton Joins Fight Against Austin Paid Sick Leave Ordinance

Republican AG condemns city's employer new paid sick leave mandate calling it a 'disdain and blatant disregard for the rule of law.'

AUSTIN, TX —The Texas Attorney General on Monday intervened in a lawsuit against the City of Austin's recently passed employer paid sick leave ordinance, expressing support for litigation against the city for local legislation it labeled as unlawful.

Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ground-breaking ordinance as "unlawful" in a prepared statement. His reaction comes less than one week after a conservative think tank sued the city over its recently passed ordinance requiring paid sick leave of all employers operating within city limits.

In his statement, Paxton said the minimum wage, which includes the minimum amount of paid time off, is a decision strictly entrusted to the Texas Legislature rather than local jurisdictions.

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"The Austin City Council's disdain and blatant disregard for the rule of law is an attempt to unlawfully and inappropriately usurp the authority of the state lawmakers chosen by Texas voters and must be stopped," the Republican AG said.

Austin City Council members passed the paid sick leave ordinance in February, requiring most private employers to provide sick leave to employers up to an accrued 64 hours, or eight days. Small business owners with 15 or fewer employees also must provide paid sick leave for workers up to 48 hours or six work days.