Texas Gambles Your Safety Away With Sweeping Deregulation Law

On a spring day in Austin, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 into law, heralding it as a triumph for Texas' economic future. Branded as the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, or TREO, this new entity promises to slice through bureaucratic red tape, streamline government, and unleash prosperity for businesses. The rhetoric is seductive: a leaner state, unshackled from outdated rules, moving at the 'speed of business.' But beneath the applause from business leaders and lawmakers lies a troubling reality. This law, cloaked in the language of efficiency, risks dismantling the very protections that keep Texans safe, healthy, and equitable.

The allure of deregulation is not new. For decades, advocates of unfettered markets have argued that government rules stifle innovation and burden entrepreneurs. In Texas, where economic growth is a point of pride, this narrative resonates deeply. Yet the creation of TREO, with its mandate to audit and eliminate regulations, signals a dangerous shift. It prioritizes corporate interests over the public good, threatening to erode safeguards that took years of advocacy and evidence to establish. This is not progress; it’s a rollback dressed up as reform.

At its core, Senate Bill 14 reflects a broader national trend, one that gained momentum under recent federal leadership. Efforts to shrink the so-called administrative state have painted government agencies as bloated and intrusive, ignoring their role in protecting citizens from corporate overreach. In Texas, this ideology now has a permanent home in TREO, an office empowered to reshape the state’s regulatory landscape with little regard for the consequences. The stakes are high: from workplace safety to environmental standards, the rules TREO targets are not mere inconveniences but lifelines for millions.

What makes this law particularly alarming is its timing. As Texas faces growing challenges—rising pollution, workplace inequities, and public health crises—the need for robust oversight has never been clearer. Yet instead of strengthening the systems that protect Texans, the state is doubling down on a deregulatory agenda that could leave its most vulnerable citizens exposed. This is not about efficiency; it’s about power, and who gets to wield it.

Proponents of Senate Bill 14, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senator Phil King, argue that slashing regulations will keep more money in taxpayers’ pockets and cement Texas as a global business hub. They point to studies, often from business-aligned think tanks, claiming that regulatory burdens slow GDP growth and discourage investment. One such study suggests a 10% increase in regulations can shave a state’s economic growth by a fraction. But these numbers tell only half the story. What they omit is the human toll of deregulation, the lives disrupted when protections are stripped away.

Consider the Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio, a stark reminder of what happens when oversight falters. Toxic chemicals spilled into communities, displacing families and poisoning water supplies. In Texas, where industrial activity thrives, similar risks loom. Environmental regulations, often targeted as 'burdensome,' are critical to preventing such disasters. Yet TREO’s mission to eliminate 'unnecessary' rules could weaken these safeguards, prioritizing corporate profits over community safety. The cost of a spill or accident far outweighs any short-term savings from deregulation.

Workers, too, stand to lose. Regulations enforcing fair wages, safe conditions, and protections against discrimination are not abstract red tape; they’re the backbone of a just economy. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency often criticized by deregulatory advocates, has secured billions in relief for workers facing harassment and bias. In Texas, state-level rules play a similar role. If TREO deems these protections expendable, it could unravel decades of progress, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation in a state already known for its lax labor standards.

Small businesses, often invoked as the beneficiaries of deregulation, may not fare as well as promised. While some regulations can be cumbersome, others level the playing field, preventing large corporations from dominating markets. Without clear rules, small entrepreneurs face uncertainty, not freedom. The Texas Association of Business, a vocal supporter of Senate Bill 14, may celebrate now, but the long-term impact of a deregulated free-for-all could harm the very businesses they claim to champion.

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of Senate Bill 14 is its restructuring of power. By creating TREO under the governor’s direct control and removing judicial deference to state agencies, the law concentrates authority in the executive branch. This shift undermines the expertise of career professionals who craft and enforce regulations based on science and data. Instead, it hands the reins to political appointees, whose priorities may align more with campaign donors than with public welfare.

The removal of judicial deference, inspired by a recent Supreme Court ruling, is particularly troubling. Historically, courts have trusted agencies to interpret complex laws, recognizing their specialized knowledge. By stripping this deference, Texas courts can now override agency decisions, substituting judicial opinion for technical expertise. This change risks politicizing regulation, allowing judges to block protections based on personal or ideological leanings. The result? A regulatory system that’s less predictable, less fair, and less grounded in evidence.

Advocates for TREO claim it will enhance transparency and accountability. But creating a new office with 18 staff and a $22.8 million budget hardly screams lean government. Instead, it adds a layer of oversight that could complicate, rather than simplify, the regulatory process. The irony is palpable: a law meant to reduce bureaucracy may end up creating more, all while shifting power away from independent experts and toward political insiders.

Texas stands at a crossroads. It can continue down the path of deregulation, gambling with the safety and well-being of its citizens, or it can recommit to a balanced approach that values both economic growth and public protection. The latter requires acknowledging that regulations, when thoughtfully designed, are not the enemy of prosperity but its foundation. Clean air, safe workplaces, and fair markets benefit everyone, not just the powerful.

The fight for a fairer Texas must start with rejecting the false dichotomy of business versus regulation. Advocates for workers, consumers, and the environment must demand that TREO’s actions be transparent and inclusive, with input from communities most affected by regulatory changes. Lawmakers should prioritize evidence-based reforms over ideological crusades, ensuring that any rule eliminated is truly obsolete, not merely inconvenient for corporate interests. Only then can Texas build an economy that lifts all its people, not just those at the top.