Laredo Merchants Association v. City of Laredo, Texas ( 2016 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-15-00610-CV
LAREDO MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION,
Appellant
v.
CITY OF LAREDO, Texas,
Appellee
From the 341st Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2015-CVQ-00-1077-D3
Honorable Rebecca Ramirez Palomo, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Dissenting Opinion by: Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 17, 2016
REVERSED, RENDERED AND REMANDED
This is a statutory construction case in which we must determine whether section 361.0961
of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (“the Act”) preempts a checkout bag ordinance enacted by the
City of Laredo (“the City”) – City of Laredo Ordinance No. 2014-O-064, codified at section 33-
455 of the Laredo City Code of Ordinances (“the Ordinance”). On appeal, appellant Laredo
Merchants Association (“the Merchants”) argues the trial court erred in granting the City’s motion
for summary judgment because the Ordinance is preempted by section 361.0961. Because we
conclude the Ordinance is inconsistent with section 361.0961 and therefore preempted by it, we
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reverse the trial court’s judgment, render judgment in favor of the Merchants, and remand the
cause to the trial court to determine whether the Merchants are entitled to an award of attorney’s
fees.
BACKGROUND
In December 2003, the City implemented a strategic plan aimed at creating a “trash-free
city.” As part of this strategic plan, the City adopted the Ordinance on June 2, 2014, with an
effective date of April 30, 2015. Designed to “reduce litter from discarded plastic bags,” the
Ordinance makes it unlawful for commercial establishments to provide checkout bags to
customers. Laredo, Tex., Laredo City Code §§ 33-451, 33-455. According to the Ordinance, the
phrase “checkout bag” refers to any “plastic one-time-use carryout bag that is provided by a
commercial establishment to a customer at the point of sale and is less than 4 Mils thick . . . or a
single-use paper bag.” Id. § 33-454. The Ordinance also includes a list of exceptions 1 and provides
that a violation subjects retailers to a fine of up to $2,000.00 per violation. Id. § 33-461.
Approximately one month before the Ordinance was to take effect, the Merchants filed suit
against the City, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. In its suit, the Merchants asked the trial
court to declare the Ordinance unenforceable because it is preempted by section 361.0961 of the
Act. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.0961 (West 2016) (prohibiting local governments
1
The Ordinance does not apply to the following bags:
1. Laundry dry cleaning bags, door-hanger bags, newspaper bags, or packages of multiple
bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste, or yard waste;
2. Bags provided by pharmacists or veterinarians to contain prescription drugs or other
medical necessities;
3. Bags used by restaurants to take away prepared food;
4. Bags used by a consumer inside a business establishment to [contain bulk food, frozen
food, flowers and plants, or prepared food]; and
5. Bags used by a non-profit or charity to distribute [food and household items].
Id. at § 33-459.
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from adopting ordinance that prohibits or restricts, for solid waste management purposes, sale or
use of container or package in manner not authorized by state law). The Merchants also sought a
temporary restraining order to enjoin the City from enforcing the Ordinance. 2
Ultimately, the City filed a traditional motion for summary judgment, contending section
361.0961 of the Act does not preempt the Ordinance because, as a matter of law, section 361.0961
does not clearly and unmistakably prohibit a city from banning checkout bags as defined by the
Ordinance. In its motion, the City argued: (1) a “checkout” bag as defined by the Ordinance is not
a “container” or “package” within the meaning of section 361.0961; (2) the Ordinance does not
regulate checkout bag use for solid waste management purposes; (3) the City is authorized to
regulate checkout bags under section 551.002 of the Local Government Code; and (4) the
Ordinance is a valid exercise of the City’s police power. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE § 551.002
(West 2015) (providing that home-rule municipality may prohibit pollution and protect
watersheds).
In response, the Merchants filed a cross motion for partial summary judgment, arguing
section 361.0961 of the Act preempts the Ordinance because the Ordinance is essentially
inconsistent with, and therefore preempted by, section 361.0961 as a matter of law. According to
the Merchants, the Ordinance is inconsistent with section 361.0961 because: (1) a “checkout bag”
as defined by the Ordinance is a “container” or “package” as provided in section 361.0961; and
(2) the Ordinance’s purpose is to regulate solid waste management. The Merchants also argued
that whether the Ordinance is within the City’s authority under section 551.002 of the Local
Government Code or within its police power is irrelevant to the preemption issue. See id.
2
After a temporary injunction hearing, the Ordinance was amended to clarify it prohibited the sale of checkout bags.
The amended version reads, “It shall be unlawful for any commercial establishment to provide in any manner including
for free, by sale or otherwise, checkout bags to customers except as outlined by this article.” Laredo, Tex. Ordinance
2015-O-057 (April 27, 2015). This amended version has not yet been codified.
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After reviewing the motions, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the City
and denied the Merchants’ motion. In its final judgment, the trial court declared a reasonable
construction exists under which both the Ordinance and section 361.0961 of the Act could be
effective, and therefore, section 361.0961 does not preempt the Ordinance. The Merchants then
perfected this appeal.
ANALYSIS
On appeal, the Merchants argue the trial court erred in granting the City’s traditional
motion for summary judgment because the Ordinance is inconsistent with and therefore preempted
by section 361.0961 of the Act as a matter of law. According to the Merchants, the Ordinance is
preempted by section 361.0961 because: (1) it prohibits or restricts the sale or use of “containers”
or “packages;” (2) it was adopted for a “solid waste management purpose;” (3) the manner in
which it prohibits the use of “checkout bags” is not within the City’s police power; and (4) it is
clearly and unmistakably at odds with section 361.0961.
Standard of Review
We review a trial court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Katy Venture, Ltd. v.
Cremona Bistro Corp., 469 S.W.3d 160, 163 (Tex. 2015); City of San Antonio v. Greater San
Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419 S.W.3d 597, 600 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, pet. denied).
Traditional summary judgment is proper only when the movant establishes there is no genuine
issue of material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c);
BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc. v. City of Hous., No. 13-0768, 2016 WL 1719182, at *2 (Tex. April 29,
2016); Katy Venture, 469 S.W.3d at 163; Greater San Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419 S.W.3d at 600-
01. We take all the evidence favorable to the nonmovant as true, and we indulge every reasonable
inference and resolve any doubts in favor of the nonmovant. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL
1719182 at *2; Katy Venture, Ltd., 469 S.W.3d at 163; Greater San Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419
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S.W.3d at 600. Once the movant meets this burden of establishing each element of its claim as a
matter of law, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to disprove or raise a fact issue as to at least one
of the elements of the movant’s claim. Katy Venture, Ltd., 469 S.W.3d at 163.
When, as is the case here, both parties move for summary judgment and the trial court
grants one motion but denies the other, we review both motions and render the judgment the trial
court should have rendered. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *2; Tex. Mun. Power
Agency v. Pub. Util. Comm’n of Tex., 253 S.W.3d 184, 192 (Tex. 2007).
Applicable Law – Preemption
Laredo is a home-rule city. See City of Laredo v. Webb Cty., 220 S.W.3d 571, 574 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2007, no pet.). Home-rule cities possess broad discretionary powers of self-
government and look to the Legislature for limitations on their powers. TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE
§ 51.072(a) (West 2008); BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *2 (citing Dall. Merch.’s
& Concessionaire’s Ass’n v. City of Dall., 852 S.W.2d 489, 490-91 (Tex. 1993)); Southern
Crushed Concrete, LLC v. City of Hous., 398 S.W.3d 676, 678 (Tex. 2013); RCI Ent. (San
Antonio), Inc. v. City of San Antonio, 373 S.W.3d 589, 595 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, pet.
ref’d) (specifying courts do not determine whether Legislature made grants of authority). A home-
rule city cannot enact an ordinance that contains a provision inconsistent with the constitution or
general laws of the state. TEX. CONST. art. XI, § 5(a); BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182
at *2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 490-91; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. A home-rule city
ordinance that attempts to regulate a subject matter preempted by a state statute is unenforceable
to the extent it is inconsistent with the state statute. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182
at *2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595.
If the Legislature chooses to preempt a particular subject matter that is usually part of a
home-rule city’s broad discretionary powers, the Legislature must do so with “unmistakable
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clarity.” BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *3; Southern Crushed Concrete, 398
S.W.3d at 678; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. Merely because
the Legislature has enacted a law addressing a particular subject matter does not automatically
mean all of the subject matter is completely preempted. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL
1719182 at *2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. This is because
“[a] general law and a city ordinance will not be held repugnant to each other if any other
reasonable construction leaving both in effect can be reached.” BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016
WL 1719182 at *2; see also Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595-96;
Greater San Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419 S.W.3d at 600. In other words, both the city ordinance
and general law will be enforced so long as it is possible under any reasonable construction. BCCA
Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373
S.W.3d at 595-96; Greater San Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419 S.W.3d at 600-01. Nevertheless, if it
is not possible to reconcile the city ordinance and general law, then the general law trumps the
ordinance, making the ordinance unenforceable. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at
*2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595-96; Greater San Antonio
Builders Ass’n, 419 S.W.3d at 600-01.
Application
As stated above, the Merchants contend the Ordinance is preempted by section 361.0961
of the Act because it is inconsistent with section 361.0961 for the following reasons: (1) it prohibits
or restricts the sale or use of “containers” or “packages;” (2) it was adopted for a “solid waste
management purpose;” (3) the manner in which it prohibits the use of “checkout bags” is not within
the City’s police power; and (4) it is clearly and unmistakably at odds with section 361.0961.
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1. Police Powers and Unmistakable Clarity
We begin our analysis by addressing the Merchants’ third and fourth arguments regarding
whether the Ordinance is within the City’s police powers and whether the Act limits that police
power with unmistakable clarity. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *3
(addressing whether legislative limitation on home-rule municipality’s police power appears with
unmistakable clarity first); S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at 678; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d
at 491. Because these issues are similar, we will address them together.
The City argues section 551.002 of the Local Government Code authorizes it to regulate
litter from discarded plastic bags. Under that section, a home-rule city may prohibit the pollution
of watersheds by policing water sources. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE § 551.002. However, as set
out above, the Legislature may limit a home-rule city’s police power regarding a particular subject
matter so long as that limitation appears with unmistakable clarity. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc.,
2016 WL 1719182 at *3; S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at 678; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at
491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. Thus, we must determine whether section 361.0961 of the Act
limits the City’s police power to prevent the pollution of watersheds with unmistakable clarity.
See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *3; S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at 678;
Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. To do this, we must conduct a
statutory construction analysis and ascertain the intent of the Legislature. See BCCA Appeal Grp.,
Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *3.
Statutory construction is a question of law we review de novo. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc.,
2016 WL 1719182 at *3. When construing a statute, we must give effect to the Legislature’s
intent. Id. To determine the Legislature’s intent, we start with the plain language of the statute
and view the statute as a whole as opposed to viewing isolated provisions. Id. at *3, *6; Molinet
v. Kimbrell, 356 S.W.3d 407, 411 (Tex. 2011). This is because the plain meaning of the text is the
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best expression of legislative intent. BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *3; Molinet,
356 S.W.3d at 411. We do not consider statements made during the legislative process as evidence
of the Legislature’s intent. Molinet, 356 S.W.3d at 414. Rather, “the Legislature expresses its
intent by the words it enacts and declares to be the law.” Id.
When a statute defines a word, we are bound by that definition; however, we will apply
ordinary meanings to undefined words unless a different or more precise meaning is apparent from
the word’s use. PlainsCapital Bank v. Martin, 459 S.W.3d 550, 556 (Tex. 2015); City of Hous. v.
Bates, 406 S.W.3d 539, 543-44 (Tex. 2013); TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d
432, 439 (Tex. 2011). When a statute is unambiguous, “we adopt the interpretation supported by
the plain language unless such an interpretation would lead to absurd results.” TGS-NOPEC
Geophysical Co., 340 S.W.3d at 439. With these rules in mind, we now consider whether section
361.0961 of the Act expresses the Legislature’s intent to limit the City’s police power to prevent
the pollution of watersheds with unmistakable clarity.
To begin, the Act governs the management and control of solid waste materials. TEX.
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.002; Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead v. Tex.
Commission on Envtl. Quality, No. 03-14-00718-CV, 2016 WL 1566759, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Austin April 13, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) Its policy and purpose is “to safeguard the health,
welfare, and physical property of the people and to protect the environment by controlling the
management of solid waste, including accounting for hazardous waste that is generated.” TEX.
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.002; Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead, 2016 WL
1566759, at *3. In an effort to achieve this purpose, the Act authorizes the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality's (“TCEQ”) to regulate the management of municipal solid waste disposal.
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.011; Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead, 2016 WL
1566759, at *3.
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Section 361.0961 of the Act states a local government may not adopt an ordinance that
“prohibit[s] or restrict[s], for solid waste management purposes, the sale or use of a container or
package in a manner not authorized by state law.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.0961. By
its plain language, section 361.0961 specifically addresses a particular subject matter – the sale or
use of containers or packages for solid waste management purposes – and is unmistakably aimed
at prohibiting local governments from enacting certain ordinances. By prohibiting the adoption of
an ordinance prohibiting or restricting that particular subject matter, section 361.0961
unmistakably limits a local government’s police powers, including the police power outlined in
section 551.002 of the Local Government Code. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182
at *3; S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at 678; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373
S.W.3d at 595.
Accordingly, we conclude the language of section 361.0961 of the Act unmistakably
expresses the Legislature’s desire to preempt any ordinance that prohibits the sale or use of a
container or package for solid waste management purposes. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016
WL 1719182 at *3; S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at 678; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491;
RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. Because section 361.0961 expressly prohibits the adoption of any
such ordinance, any ordinance prohibiting the sale or use of a container for solid waste
management purposes cannot be in harmony with the statute. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016
WL 1719182 at *10. Thus, our next inquiry in determining whether the Ordinance is preempted
is whether the Ordinance prohibits or restricts the sale or use of a container or package for solid
waste management purposes. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at *7; Dall.
Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595. This requires us to consider an analysis
of the Merchants’ first and second arguments.
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2. Whether the Ordinance Prohibits or Restricts the Sale or Use of “Containers” or
“Packages”
According to the Merchants, the Ordinance is inconsistent with, and therefore preempted
by, section 361.0961 of the Act because a “checkout bag” as defined by the Ordinance is a
“container” or “package” within the meaning of section 361.0961. To support its position, the
Merchants point to a Texas Attorney General opinion, which concludes that a “single-use plastic
bag is a container within the meaning of [section 361.0961 of the Act].” See Tex. Att’y Gen. Op.
No. GA-1078 (2014). The Merchants also point to a number of cases in which Texas courts have
recognized plastic bags are a type of package. See, e.g., Davis v. State, 202 S.W.3d 149, 156-57
(Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (noting “that drugs are commonly packaged, carried, or transported in
plastic bags”); Yamaha Motor Corp. v. Motor Vehicle Div., Tex. Dep’t of Transp., 860 S.W.2d
223, 228 (Tex. App.—Austin 1993, writ denied) (holding plaintiff had obligations in regard to
parts packaged in resealable plastic bags); Furr’s Supermarkets, Inc. v. Arellano, 492 S.W.2d 727,
728 (Tex. Civ. App.—El Paso 1973, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (stating in slip and fall lawsuit product that
spilled was packaged in plastic type bag).
Neither section 361.0961 nor the Act define the terms “container” or “package;” therefore,
we must apply an ordinary meaning to the terms. See PlainsCapital Bank, 459 S.W.3d at 556;
Bates, 406 S.W.3d at 544; TGS-NOPEC Geophysical, 340 S.W.3d at 439. When determining the
plain and ordinary meaning of a word, Texas courts often consult dictionaries to ascertain a word’s
natural meaning. Epps v. Fowler, 351 S.W.3d 862, 866 (Tex. 2011). Here, Webster’s Third New
International Dictionary defines “bag” as a type of “container made of paper, cloth, mesh, metal
foil, plastic, or other flexible material.” WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 162
(2002) (emphasis added); see also THE NEW OXFORD AMERICAN DICTIONARY 119 (2d ed. 2005)
(defining bag as “a container of flexible material with an opening at the top, used for carrying
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things”). Under an ordinary meaning analysis, we conclude a “checkout bag” – or more
specifically, a “plastic one-time-use carryout bag” or “single-use paper bag” – is a type of
“container” or “package” within the meaning of section 361.0961. See PlainsCapital Bank, 459
S.W.3d at 556; see also Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. GA-1078 (2014) (concluding that single-use
plastic bag is container within the meaning of section 361.061).
The City argues that by using the terms “package” and “container,” the Legislature
intended to refer only to closed vessels or wrappings and not checkout bags. We disagree. The
plain language of section 361.0961 or the Act does not limit the terms “containers” or “packages”
to closed vessels or wrappings as the City contends. See Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. GA-1078 (2014).
And although the City points to an explanation by the bill’s sponsor that the bill was intended to
prohibit municipalities from adopting rules regulating “wasteful packaging, Styrofoam cups and
bottle returns,” we decline to consider or give weight to that explanation as such statements are
not evidence of the Legislature’s intent. See Molinet, 356 S.W.3d at 414. Instead, we must look
to the plain language of section 361.0961 to determine what the Legislature intended. See id.
Here, the plain language of section 361.0961 does not limit the types of “containers” or “packages”
to closed vessels or wrappings; rather, it uses the words “containers” or “packages,” which by their
plain meaning includes checkout bags.
Accordingly, we conclude a “checkout bag” as defined by the Ordinance is a type of
“container” or “package” as those terms are used in section 361.0961 of the Act. We now turn to
our attention to our next inquiry: whether the Ordinance prohibits the sale or use of checkout bags
for “solid waste management purposes.” See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.0961.
3. Whether the Ordinance Was Adopted for “Solid Waste Management” Purposes
The Merchants argue the Ordinance’s express purpose is to manage solid waste by
controlling the issuance of checkout bags by retailers to their customers. To support its position,
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the Merchants point to the language of the “Purpose and Goals” section of the Ordinance, which
states the Ordinance seeks to promote the prevention of litter. The City argues the Ordinance was
not adopted for “solid waste management” purposes because the Ordinance does not regulate the
management of solid waste. According to the City, the Ordinance was adopted with the intention
of regulating the act of “providing single-use bags to customers for holding and carrying away
their purchases.” The City explains that by regulating this activity, the Ordinance aims to prevent
litter as opposed to managing solid waste. We, again, disagree with the City.
To determine whether the Ordinance was adopted for a “solid waste management” purpose,
we must once again conduct a statutory construction analysis and examine the meaning of “solid
waste management” as defined by the Act. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc., 2016 WL 1719182 at
*2; PlainsCapital, 459 S.W.3d at 556; Bates, 406 S.W.3d at 544. Here, the Act defines “solid
waste” as “garbage, rubbish, [and] refuse” and “management” as “the systematic control of the
activities of generation, source separation, collection, handling, storage, transportation, processing,
treatment, recovery, or disposal of solid waste.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.003(18),
(34).
With this in mind, we turn our attention to the purposes outlined by the Ordinance. The
Ordinance seeks to:
A. To promote the beautification of the City through prevention of litter generated from
discarded checkout bags.
B. To reduce costs associated with floatable trash controls and the maintenance of the
municipal separate stormwater sewer system.
C. To protect life and property from flooding that is a consequence of improper stormwater
drainage attributed in part to obstruction by litter from checkout bags.
Laredo, Tex., Laredo City Code §§ 33-451. When considering these purposes, we conclude the
Ordinance was adopted to control the generation of solid waste as produced by litter resulting from
discarded checkout bags. Here, the Ordinance identifies discarded checkout bags as litter, which
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is naturally understood as “refuse or rubbish,” which in turn is a type of “solid waste” as defined
by the Act. See id; see also TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 361.003 (34); WEBSTER’S THIRD
NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1322 (2002). The Ordinance then goes on to state it seeks to
prevent the generation of litter – a type of management activity. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
§§ 361.003 (18), (34).
Although the City argues the “prevention of litter” is not within the meaning of
“management,” we disagree because by prohibiting the sale and use of bags to prevent them from
becoming litter, the Ordinance is regulating the generation of litter. Controlling the generation of
solid waste is the “management” of solid waste as that term is defined by the Act. Furthermore,
the City’s argument ignores the underlying effect of the Ordinance. See id. § 361.003 (18), (34).
The Texas Supreme Court has stated that when determining whether an ordinance is preempted by
a state law, Texas courts must consider not only the purpose of an ordinance as defined by that
ordinance, but also the actual effect of that ordinance. See S. Crushed Concrete, 398 S.W.3d at
678-79 (recognizing that city can circumvent preemption by passing ordinances that “purport to
regulate something other than” a subject matter reserved by the state). Here, the actual effect of
the Ordinance is to manage solid waste by regulating litter produced from discarded checkout bags.
See id.
Thus based on the foregoing analysis, we hold the Ordinance is inconsistent with section
361.0961 of the Act and therefore unenforceable as a matter of law. See BCCA Appeal Grp., Inc.,
2016 WL 1719182 at *2; Dall. Merch.’s, 852 S.W.2d at 491; RCI Ent., 373 S.W.3d at 595; Greater
San Antonio Builders Ass’n, 419 W.W.3d at 600. The Ordinance does exactly what the Act intends
to prevent – regulate the sale or use of plastic bags for solid waste management purposes. We,
therefore, hold the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the City, and we
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reverse the trial court’s judgment and render judgment that the Ordinance is preempted by section
361.0961 of the Act as a matter of law.
Remand for Attorney’s Fees
The Declaratory Judgment Act states, “[i]n any proceeding under this chapter, the court
may award costs and reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees as are equitable and just.” TEX.
CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 37.009 (West 2015); North Tex. Municipal Water Dist. v. Ball,
466 S.W.3d 314, 323-24 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015, no pet.) (remanding appeal involving cross
motions for summary judgment to trial court for determination of attorney’s fees). Here, in its
petition and motion for summary judgment, the Merchants pled for attorney’s fees as provided
under the Declaratory Judgment Act. Because we are reversing the trial court’s judgment and
rendering summary judgment in the Merchants’ favor, we remand the cause for the trial court to
reconsider the issue of attorney’s fees. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 37.009 (West
2015); North Tex. Municipal Water Dist., 466 S.W.3d at 323-24.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we reverse the summary judgment in favor of the City and render
judgment in favor of the Merchants, holding that section 33-455 of the Ordinance is preempted by
section 361.0961 of the Act, and therefore unenforceable as a matter of law. We also remand the
cause to the trial court to determine whether the Merchants are entitled to an award of attorney’s
fees under the Declaratory Judgment Act.
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
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