Postponing the proposed text amendment based on HB 1001/SB 1134 is premature. The bill has not been signed and, even if it were, it would not take effect until next year. There is no reason not to move forward now. In fact, the best reading of HB 1001/SB 1134 is that it does not apply to the text amendment. The amendment is content-neutral; the City is not endorsing any message but simply allowing limited variation in picket colors. Conflating government DEI restrictions with ordinary private expression would significantly broaden the law and raise serious constitutional concerns. The Commission should proceed and revisit if and when state law changes.
Postponing the proposed text amendment based on HB 1001/SB 1134 is premature. The bill has not been signed and, even if it were, it would not take effect until next year. There is no reason not to move forward now. In fact, the best reading of HB 1001/SB 1134 is that it does not apply to the text amendment. The amendment is content-neutral; the City is not endorsing any message but simply allowing limited variation in picket colors. Conflating government DEI restrictions with ordinary private expression would significantly broaden the law and raise serious constitutional concerns. The Commission should proceed and revisit if and when state law changes.