STATES SAYING ‘NO’ TO CITIES SEEKING TO REGULATE BUSINESSES

Potential patchwork of local regulations could be bad for the economy

State lawmakers across the country are increasingly saying “no” to cities and counties seeking to impose local restrictions on businesses.

In the past five years, roughly a dozen states have enacted laws barring local governments from requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees. And the number of states banning local minimum wages has grown to 15.

The state pre-emption laws affect issues both big and small, such as local restrictions on oil drilling and seed planting. Some states have banned local bans on plastic bags, restaurant meal toys and sugary drinks.

In each case, states have stepped in after city officials somewhere proposed local policies that business leaders didn’t like. Businesses have warned that a potential patchwork of local regulations could be bad for the economy.

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