By Nik Rajkovic
Apr 20, 2021
Texas state lawmakers are moving quickly on legislation that would punish cities and counties which "defund" their police departments.
Senate Bill 23 would require a vote by the people if local officials wanted to cut or transfer money away from police. Cities and counties that do not hold an election would be prohibited from collecting property taxes.
The legislation is in direct response to Austin's decision to transfer money away from police, and the fallout since.
“Trash piling up. People camping on your property and using drugs, committing crimes. All sorts of assaults, fires and everything else happening,” says Charlie Wilkerson with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.