Council members celebrate unanimous defeat of bill that proposed putting Austin under state control

Austin City Council members celebrated the resounding defeat of House Bill 274 on Wednesday, a bill that would have created the “District of Austin” as the state’s official seat of government.

“Our message is loud and clear: local leaders are best equipped to address local needs. The overwhelming rebuke from members of the state Legislature against the creation of the District of Austin is appreciated,” Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said. 

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Briscoe Cain, would have granted Austin special status, placing the city’s laws, assets and debts under the control of a newly proposed district. This district would have wielded the same powers as a home-rule city, granting the state the authority to modify or revoke laws, ordinances and policies within the city of Austin.

“The city of Austin is run by thousands of dedicated civil servants who have made our city a national leader on issues as varied as renewable energy, affordable housing, mental health response and more,” Council Member Mike Siegel said prior to the bill’s defeat. “The Texas Legislature does not have the capacity or expertise to run our city, and Rep. Briscoe should focus his efforts on matters of statewide concern, whether it’s the growing water crisis, the defunding of our public schools or the protection of democracy itself.”

The bill failed to pass in the State Affairs Committee Wednesday after it was unanimously rejected in a 0-11 vote. 

City representatives argued that HB 274 was a political diversion designed to shift attention away from the real issues facing cities. 

“The legislation was a blatant political maneuver to undermine our ability to address Austin’s most pressing challenges, like housing, public safety and child care. I’m grateful to see it unanimously voted down by members of the State Affairs Committee,” Fuentes said. 

“The Texas Legislature has a long history of passing unpaid mandates on to cities and counties or preempting our authority to handle issues at the local level,” Council Member Zo Qadri said. “This attempt was no exception. They’re once again beating up on Austin to score political points, when instead they should be focusing on providing quality public education and health care to every Texan.”

Council Member Paige Ellis stated that the unanimous rejection of the bill has cleared the way for her to refocus on her core responsibility to advocate for and support her constituents.

“Republicans and Democrats don’t agree on much these days, so the fact that this bill did not win one vote in committee speaks for itself,” Ellis said. “I’m glad I can focus on what matters most: serving my constituents and making sure government works for them.”

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