State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Texas lawmakers clear way for Uber, Lyft return to major cities

Reuters: Texas governor Greg Abbott will sign in the next few days a bill that would shield ride-hailing firms Uber and Lyft from bruising battles over fingerprint background checks that led them to leave some of the state's most important markets.

Lawmakers last week approved the legislation known as House Bill 100 that sets up statewide regulations for the companies. It clears the way for Lyft Inc to reenter Houston, where Uber Technologies Inc currently dominates, and for both to reenter Austin, Corpus Christi and Galveston.

More than 40 states have set up statewide regulatory systems for ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft that can be used to override local regulations in most places, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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