Texas governor signs bill rescinding water breaks as deadly heat grips state

Measure will nullify local ordinances that provide workers protection from devastating, triple-digit temperatures

Amid a dangerous heatwave that has brought blistering temperatures across Texas, the state’s governor signed a law this week eliminating local rules requiring water breaks for workers.

The measure, which will take effect later this year, will nullify ordinances enacted by Austin and Dallas that mandate 10-minute breaks for construction workers every four hours. It also prevents any other local governments from passing similar worker protections.