Federal Judge Blocks Texas Law Targeting Critics of Fossil Fuels

In a report from Nytimes, a federal judge in Texas struck down a 2021 law that barred state agencies from investing in firms accused of boycotting fossil fuel companies. Judge Alan D. Albright of the U.S. District Court in Austin wrote in a 12-page decision that S.B.

13 was unconstitutional, overly broad and reached activities protected by free speech, saying it allowed the state to penalize companies “for all manner of protected expression concerning fossil fuels.” The decision came in a 2024 lawsuit brought by the American Sustainable Business Council; two member companies, Etho Capital and Sphere, had been placed on what they called a blacklist.

David Levine, the council’s president, called the ruling “a massive win for sustainable businesses and investors, for responsible shareholders in Texas and for freedom.” The suit named Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and former Comptroller Glenn Hegar as defendants; Mr.

United States, Austin, Texas