As residents of Boca Chica vote on whether to turn their unincorporated community into a new city called Starbase, state lawmakers have blocked a bill that would have given SpaceX more authority over local roads and beach access. The bill’s failure comes as part of a broader debate over the company’s expanding influence in the region.
Starbase, home to SpaceX’s launch and manufacturing site, sits on the Gulf Coast in Cameron County’s Rio Grande Valley, roughly 25 miles from Brownsville. The facility supports test flights of SpaceX’s Starship rockets—central to Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions—which frequently require closure of surrounding public areas.
These shutdowns have sparked legal challenges and protests from environmental groups and Indigenous advocates, who argue that the company’s operations disrupt access, damage ecosystems and violate regulatory protections.
The proposed law would have made it easier for SpaceX to manage public access around its launch zone if the area became a city, but a Texas House committee voted it down on Monday. Local opposition had built steadily, with activists in the Rio Grande Valley lobbying against the measure for weeks.
Meanwhile, the effort to incorporate Starbase continues. Early voting began April 22 and runs through May 3. If approved, Starbase would become the first U.S. municipality created specifically to support spaceflight. The city would cover roughly 1.5 square miles—similar in size to Central Park—and is designed to accommodate up to 3,500 SpaceX employees.
Currently, fewer than 300 residents live in the area, most of whom are affiliated with the company. Due to this, analysts expect overwhelming support for incorporation, and voters are also selecting the city’s first mayor and two commissioners.
Elon Musk first pitched the concept of a space-focused city in 2021 and officially moved SpaceX’s headquarters from California to Starbase in 2024.
Photo Courtesy
Alexander Hatley via Wikimedia Commons
