Legislature Passes Measure To Give Starbase Greater Control Over Beach

Texas lawmakers are granting the City of Starbase authority to close a Cameron County beach and the highway leading to it.

A section of House Bill 5246 allows the Texas Space Commission to coordinate with local officials to close roads and venues for public safety.

The measure moves the authority to order the closure of Boca Chica Beach and State Highway Four from the county to the city. Several groups opposed the measure over fears that SpaceX might impose greater restrictions on the public use of the beach.