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Local Government
Austin defends its short-term rental rules before Texas lawmakers
Austin’s rules on short-term rental units – advertised on apps and sites like Airbnb and HomeAway – are under fire at the Texas Capitol. House lawmakers heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would override the city’s ban on properties…
Texas State Legislature • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 5, 2019
Austin FC hires legislative lobbyists
The soccer club Austin FC, owned by Precourt Sports Ventures, hired three lobbyists on March 7, the day after Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, introduced legislation that could seriously impact Precourt’s plans for a new soccer stadium at McKalla Place. The…
Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Apr 5, 2019
Property tax bill could cost soccer club
Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, has introduced legislation that could put a crimp in the plans of anyone leasing municipal property for a new sports facility – such as a soccer stadium – and planning not to pay property taxes to…
Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Apr 4, 2019
County to acquaint itself with puzzling Pretrial Services
Despite its ongoing effort to keep Travis County defendants connected to their communities and out of jail whenever possible, the county Pretrial Services Department has not always been included in the county’s many recent discussions about reducing jail population and…
Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 4, 2019
Under House school finance bill, Austin would get to keep $194 million more in taxes in 2020
Austin Independent School District would pay $194 million less in recapture in 2020 if House Bill 3, the chamber’s $9 billion school finance plan, is passed. Recapture is the law that requires “property-rich” school districts, like Austin ISD and most…
Texas State Legislature • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Apr 2, 2019
Here are 3 ways state lawmakers could disrupt (or shore up) short-term rentals in Texas this session
For years, short-term rentals – the rooms, cottages, condos and homes on apps like Airbnb and HomeAway – have been the subject of lawsuits and hand-wringing on the part of regulators and people looking to rent out properties. Texas lawmakers…
Texas State Legislature • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 29, 2019
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Music venues could see liquor tax relief under proposed state laws
An Austin-based live music advocacy group has helped with the creation of two bills up for consideration in the Texas Legislature that would provide rebates on liquor tax payments to music venues across the state. House Bill 2806 was presented…
Texas State Legislature • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 29, 2019
Travis County already has a public defender's office – for juveniles
Amid the contentious public debate over the creation of a public defender’s office in Travis County is an oft-neglected fact: Travis County already has a public defender’s office. It just doesn’t serve adults. The Travis County Juvenile Public Defender, founded…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Mar 28, 2019
Casar to pay Pressley's court fees, but they're not much
When Council Member Greg Casar filed the report on his special officeholder account on Jan. 15, it showed just $321.91 in the account. The purpose of that account has been to help Casar pay the legal fees in the lawsuit…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 18, 2019
Indigent defense work group gets new chance to find common ground
Yielding to the expertise of Amanda Woog, chair of Travis County’s indigent legal services work group, the Commissioners Court swiftly appointed two private defense attorneys to the group during its voting session Tuesday afternoon. Local attorneys Paul Quinzi and Michael…
Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 14, 2019
Council rules unlikely to change despite opinion
Despite a ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismantling a provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act that prevents local government officials from meeting in small groups in what is known as a “walking quorum,” it seems unlikely…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 12, 2019
Eckhardt delivers State of the County address
Like the Wonder Woman mug of tea sitting on the podium before her, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says Travis County is filled to the brim. With an unprecedented number of infrastructure projects in line for construction, a contentious array of…
