SpaceX Starbase May Soon Control Road Closures Thanks To New Legislation

BOCA CHICA, Texas — The long-debated question of who controls access to Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 during SpaceX operations is approaching a turning point, as two Rio Grande Valley lawmakers have introduced bills that would transfer much of that authority to Starbase — a proposed new municipality currently under consideration for incorporation.

State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and State Representative Oscar Longoria have filed Senate Bill 2188 and House Bill 4066, respectively, in the 89th Texas Legislature.

The legislation would grant the proposed City of Starbase legal control over weekday road and beach closures for spaceflight-related activities including rocket tests, launches, and other aerospace operations if the community becomes a legally incorporated Type-C municipality.

That decision lies in the hands of the residents of the Boca Chica Village community, who will vote on the incorporation of Starbase as part of the May 3 uniform election. After receiving a valid petition in December meeting the state’s population and procedural requirements, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. was legally obligated to call the election.

Only residents of the Boca Chica area — most of whom are directly affiliated with or supportive of SpaceX — will be eligible to vote on the incorporation measure. This narrow pool of voters, composed largely of those who signed the original petition, makes approval of the proposal highly likely.

Shift in Control

If both the incorporation vote and proposed legislation succeed, Cameron County would lose its current oversight authority over weekday closure requests.

That means SpaceX would no longer need county approval to restrict access to Boca Chica Beach or S.H. 4 from Monday 8 a.m. through Friday noon. However, the county would still retain authority over closures on weekends, specifically from Friday noon to Monday 8 a.m.

The proposed change would significantly streamline SpaceX’s ability to schedule launches and test flights, potentially eliminating bureaucratic delays; a move supporters argue is essential for Texas to remain at the forefront of the commercial space race.

Local Reaction

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the community’s divided opinions.

“Depending on who you ask, those opinions range from the belief that everything necessary should be done to support SpaceX to the conviction that no one should have the authority to close beaches and roads except in emergencies,” - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.

Treviño, who has occasionally denied SpaceX requests for closures, said that while he understands the importance of the company’s activities, public access, especially on weekends, must be preserved.

“I know people don’t believe it,...Contrary to some negative thought, we’re not at the beck and call of SpaceX. We’re there to work with them and help make them succeed, but that doesn’t mean that they get everything that they ask for.” - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.

Should the legislation pass, however, Treviño admitted that Cameron County’s influence over closures would be significantly diminished.

“This is a state issue...The people need to lobby the local delegation as well as the representatives and senators throughout the state if they don’t think this is a good idea.” - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.

A New Era for Starbase?

SpaceX founder Elon Musk first floated the idea of creating a city named “Starbase” in 2021, a vision closely tied to his long-term goal of making humanity multiplanetary. Since then, SpaceX has expanded its footprint in the region, transforming the sleepy Boca Chica Village into a hub of cutting-edge aerospace development and increasing friction with local environmentalists, beachgoers, and longtime residents.

If voters approve incorporation and lawmakers pass the enabling bills, Starbase would become a Type-C municipality, a Texas classification for cities with populations between 201 and 4,999. Under this status, the city would assume control over certain local governance functions, including if permitted by the Legislature management of access during spaceflight operations.

What’s Next?

The incorporation vote will take place on May 3, and the proposed legislation is working its way through committees in both the Texas House and Senate.

Public hearings and debate are expected in the coming weeks.