Tree advocates from all across Texas met at the Capitol today to stand against legislation that they say puts trees in danger. This after Governor Abbott called for legislators to consider laws that would pre-empt all local tree ordinances to protect property owners’ rights.

“There are at least, as we’ve counted, over 110 ordinances across the State of Texas. I think a lot of people think that this is an Austin thing, but it’s places like Weatherford, Allen, Orange, Mineral Wells, we found this week, all across the State of Texas. So this isn’t a Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, big city or small thing, this is about common sense protections,” Andrew Dobbs, Legislative Director, Texas Campaign for the Environment.

Several people delivered copies of the books to House members encouraging them to vote against laws that would allow the state to control tree ordinances, specifically House Bill 70.