Tag Archives: Texas Legislature

$17.8 million in food funding for Austin-area kids is on the line when the Legislature convenes

A federal food assistance program could provide families in Hays, Williamson and Travis counties with more than $17.8 million to feed their kids over the summer if Texas decides to participate. But that’s a big if. The Texas Health and…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 15, 2025

At citizens’ request, City Council reannexes land

Some property owners object to the rules and fees governing use of their land in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and seek to escape from those rules. But their neighbors may not agree. City Council took action during their final meeting…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 10, 2025

Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here's where the rules have changed.

Mandatory vehicle safety inspections have been eliminated for many Texas drivers. But in 17 counties – including Travis and Williamson – an emissions test is still required to renew your vehicle registration every year. The changes, which took effect Jan. 1,…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 9, 2025

City Council condemns anti-immigrant Senate Bill 4

Last year, the Texas Legislature passed one of its most extreme anti-immigrant laws yet: Senate Bill 4, which gives law enforcement the ability to arrest and hold people suspected of having entered Texas illegally. As the law’s enforcement still hangs…

City Council • By Lina Fisher • Sep 3, 2024

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Commission drills down on what disannexation could mean for area water quality

Though the city’s current water quality monitoring system has been in place for an impressive 30 years, changes at the state Legislature mean a change at the city level as well. Andrew Clamann, who works for the Watershed Protection Department…

Water • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 13, 2024

Texas attorney general threatens Austin over City Council's effort to protect health care for transgender people

Shortly after City Council acted Thursday to protect transgender people from discriminatory health care laws, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a threatening statement, vowing to “consider every possible response to ensure compliance” with state law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors.…

City Council • By Amy Smith • May 3, 2024

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Why is someone suing to get Travis County DA José Garza out of office – and what comes next?

A Travis County resident is trying to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Betsy Dupuis filed a lawsuit Friday under House Bill 17, which allows anyone in a county to try to remove that county’s top prosecutor. Her complaint is similar…

Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 23, 2024

Austin-area schools overwhelmingly reject hiring chaplains as counselors

State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, praised school boards across Texas on Thursday for rejecting a Republican-led effort to let religious chaplains provide mental health services to students. “We are here to celebrate an important victory in the fight against…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 4, 2024

Lost Creek, five other areas to vote on leaving the city

Texas Republicans and Democrats will be going to the polls on March 5 to select their candidates for the November election. But another election is coming in May, and the only people who get a chance to vote in it…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Feb 8, 2024

CEO of Austin-based BookPeople 'ecstatic' over decision blocking law that restricts library books

The CEO of BookPeople said she is “ecstatic” the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that sought to restrict which books are available in school libraries. “I’m so, so happy that they upheld the lower court’s…

Courts • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 18, 2024

New law means parkland funds will drop drastically

The amount of parkland dedication fees City Council can collect starting on Jan. 1 will be severely limited, two principal planners for the Parks and Recreation Department told Council at Tuesday’s work session. Robynne Heymans and Scott Grantham explained that…

Parks • By Jo Clifton • Nov 9, 2023

Rural schools near Austin say they feel left behind as governor pushes for vouchers

For Randy Willis, public schools are crucial to rural communities. “I think the rural schools are the heart of Texas. They’re the backbone of Texas,” he said. Willis is the executive director of the Texas Association of Rural Schools, which represents…

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