Texas voters have approved a measure that establishes the city of Starbase for Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Of the 283 eligible voters, local residents of the area, 212 voted in favor of establishing the city.
“Starbase, Texas,” Musk wrote on X. “Is now a real city!”
The city’s government will include a mayor and two commissioners for planning, taxation, and local issues. Bobby Penden, a SpaceX vice president, will serve as mayor.
According to reports, the city covers about 1.6 square miles and is considered a Type C city, or one that is under 5,000 people and allows officials to impose a property tax of up to 1.5%.
Texas lawmakers are also weighing legislation that could provide SpaceX with new authorities when launching rockets.
According to SB 2188, “Space flight activities are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government and this state,” and “a county, municipality, or other political subdivision may not enact or enforce any measure that bans, limits, or otherwise regulates space flight activities.”
“To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the governing body of a municipality, the mayor of a municipality acting under authority delegated by ordinance, or the commissioners court, as applicable, under Subsection (b) or the commissioners court under Subsection (b-1) by ordinance or order may temporarily close a beach in reasonable proximity to the [launch] site of space flight activities or access points to the beach in the county on a primary or backup [launch] date for space flight activities,” the bill adds.
