What happens if a Texas law conflicts with a federal law?

When a Texas law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law takes precedence due to the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. This clause establishes that the Constitution, laws made under its authority, and treaties made under its authority are the supreme law of the land. This means that if state laws contradict federal laws, federal laws prevail, ensuring a consistent legal framework across the country.

In cases of conflict, states have limited authority to enact laws that oppose federal legislation. While states like Texas can enact laws addressing issues within their borders, these laws cannot contradict or undermine federal laws. This principle helps maintain order and uniformity in how laws are applied and interpreted across different states, preventing a patchwork of conflicting legal standards.

The other options suggest different scenarios that do not align with the established legal principle of federal supremacy. Negotiations between state and federal authorities concerning conflicts generally do not occur under the legal framework; instead, federal law remains dominant. Although the Supreme Court may ultimately interpret conflicts when they arise, the precedence rests with federal law from the outset, thereby typically resolving conflicts without the necessity of a Supreme Court decision unless there are broader questions of constitutional interpretation involved.