As Central Texas continues to face its worst drought on record, state legislators are considering several bills this session that could affect water supplies in Austin and throughout the state. Austin Water Utility Legislative Coordinator Heather Cooke briefed the Water and Wastewater Commission Wednesday about some of the water-related bills making their way through the […]
Texas State Legislature
Posted inAustin, Texas State Legislature
Animal Advisory Commission wary of animal legislation
Members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission requested more time Wednesday night to consider whether to recommend a bill some say would threaten city shelters’ “no-kill” status. The committee considered two bills filed by state representatives concerning veterinarian practice in city shelters, but because of confusion over what the bills would mean for animal care, it […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
House bill could restrict local voter initiatives
A voter-led initiative that banned hydraulic fracturing — also known as “fracking” — in Denton last fall appears to have inspired a Texas House bill that could quash similar measures in the future. House State Affairs Committee members heard arguments for and against the legislation at a public hearing Wednesday. Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford), who […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Explainer: Zim’s bill on housing scoring heads to State Lege Council
The Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week, Don Zimmerman’s ongoing effort to change the way federal housing subsidies are awarded. City Council Member Don Zimmerman has displayed a certain … distaste for subsidized housing. Before his election to Council, Zimmerman used a rape whistle and the phrase “no […]
Posted inAustin, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Texas mayors take aim at Legislature’s tax caps
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and the mayors of nine other large Texas cities came together Monday to declare their intention to fight any proposal to diminish local government control, especially cities’ authority to set tax rates. The idea of a state-imposed revenue cap on their collections is of greatest concern to cities. “We want to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Music & Entertainment, Resources, Texas State Legislature, Water
New agriculture commissioner calls water top issue
Recently elected Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Wednesday that he plans for the agency to play a more active role as it relates to water. “We’re going to have a water department, and we’re going to be very involved,” Miller said at a luncheon during a Lower Colorado River Authority Planning and […]
Posted inCity Hall, Environment, Local Politics, Resources, Texas State Legislature
City orders study on bag ban that state may toss
Amid concerns that state leadership will take steps to limit city ordinances such as Austin’s plastic bag ban, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission has instructed city staff to study the ban in time to send the results to the state legislature. The commission unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday requesting that the Austin Resource Recovery Department […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Texas State Legislature
GOP wants to restore Secure Communities program
A recent agreement between the City of Austin and Travis County over booking services at the county jail could be in jeopardy if congressional Republicans succeed in reversing President Obama’s executive orders on immigration policy. House Republicans voted out a bill Wednesday to fund the Homeland Security department that would defund the president’s immigration program. […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Local state reps talk turkey at RECA luncheon
On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) gave members of the Real Estate Council of Austin a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Despite the partisan gap, the two representatives found some common ground during the preview. Though they mostly focused on different topics, both addressed issues that could impact Austin […]
Posted inCity Hall, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature, Travis County
Austin, Travis get ready for 84th Texas Legislature
With the specter of dealing with a Texas Legislature that has become even more conservative — if that is possible — with the Nov. 4 election, the City of Austin and Travis County reviewed and approved their respective legislative agendas last week. The primary objectives for both the city and the county for the upcoming […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Texas State Legislature, Travis County
Obama immigration plan may end city-county tiff
It may have taken an executive order, but President Barack Obama seems to have headed off a dispute between the City of Austin and Travis County. The long-standing controversy involving Sheriff Greg Hamilton’s participation in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Secure Communities program may soon be over. Under Secure Communities, Travis County Jail officials cooperated […]