A bill that would prohibit Texas cities from building and operating day labor sites is among a dozen measures aimed at illegal immigration being considered by a House panel.

Representative Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, filed HB 904. The bill drew both supporters and opponents to testify during Monday's hearing of illegal immigration-related legislation.

"[The cities] are just trying to provide a service. But if that service involves harboring illegal aliens, [then] that's a violation of our laws," said Sue Richards, testifying on behalf of Texans for Responsible Government.

But state representative Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, thinks otherwise.

"The cities do not specify who these are for. These are for all day laborers," he said. "To outlaw these would not permit any workers, be they documented or undocumented, from being picked up from these central locations. And then that activity spreads into neighborhoods and communities and that's a problem."

The bill is one of a dozen that the committee laid out Monday, but after hearing several hours of testimony, left the bills pending. More controversial measures -- like a bill that would deny education and healthcare to the American-born children of illegals -- will likely not be heard in Texas.

"Frankly, the federal government should be doing this job, should be having the discussion. And we've all agreed at the state level that the battle should be happening on the House floor --- but in Washington and not in Austin," said Anchia.