Austin’s slowly shrinking vision for a fast-moving urban rail system by the end of the decade is about to face a new challenge, one that could upend the voter-approved transit expansion: property tax warriors in the Texas Legislature. New bills challenging the Austin Transit Partnership’s (ATP) powers to borrow money come as the organization is […]
Texas State Legislature
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Bill to curb compatibility filed at the state Legislature
A bill filed last week at the Texas Legislature would significantly curtail compatibility, a rule in Austin that restricts the height of buildings near single-family homes. Senate Bill 491, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), would in effect allow taller buildings to be built closer to single-family homes. If the bill passes, compatibility height […]
Posted inElections
It’s official: Texas’ new voting law led to higher rejection rates for mail-in ballots in Central Texas
County election officials in the Austin area are reporting a higher than usual rejection rate for mail-in ballots during the March 1 primary election. This was the first election since Texas’ new voting law went into effect. The law, known as Senate Bill 1, created new ID rules for ballots by mail. Advocates and county election […]
Posted inElections
Election officials say Texas’ new ID rules for voting by mail could cause more ballots to get rejected
Lee esta historia en español. More people’s mail-in ballots could be rejected in the March primary because of Texas’ new ID matching requirement, local election officials say. The requirement is part of Texas’ new voting law, Senate Bill 1. A provision of the law requires that the ID number on the application for a vote-by-mail ballot, […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Here’s what’s in Texas Republicans’ new voting law
Editor’s Note: Senate Bill 1, Texas’ restrictive new voting bill, was the law of the Lone Star State for barely an hour when civil rights groups launched a slew of lawsuits aimed at striking down the law. A federal lawsuit filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund says the law “intentionally targets and burdens methods […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Commissioners approve state-mandated changes to leave policy
Three bills were signed into law during the past legislative session that will change or add to existing leave policies for county employees. House Bill 1589 provides seven days of paid leave for public officers and employees engaged in certain types of military service; House Bill 2073 provides quarantine leave for firefighters, peace officers, detention officers […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Democrats sue Texas in attempt to get federal courts to redraw legislative districts before 2022
Texas Democrats say the state’s legislative districts can’t be redrawn in 2021 and they’re asking a federal court to redraw them before the 2022 election. The state has already begun work on redrawing its maps, but a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday argues the state can’t legally do so until after the 2022 election. The suit […]
Posted inEnergy
Legislators respond to winter storm with new requirements for energy providers
The Electric Utility Commission received an update last week on legislative action related to electric utilities, with Senate Bill 3 serving as the omnibus response bill to Winter Storm Uri in mid-February. SB 3, approved at the close of the regular session in May, enacts a number of new requirements for electric generation plants, transmission […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Downtown Commission objects to proposed state rollback of city sound ordinance
The Downtown Commission is the latest city body to formally object to a proposed state law that would invalidate most of Austin’s noise ordinance and make it legal for bars and clubs to generate loud music until 2 a.m. seven days a week. The unanimous vote at last week’s meeting came after a presentation from […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
City watching bills that would cut its authority
As has been the case for several sessions, Austin is facing numerous challenges as the Texas Legislature begins to do its business. Due to Covid, this session will present new challenges, not just for city advocates, but for members and anyone who might want to testify before a committee or even watch from the audience. […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Environmental Commission discusses its role in political advocacy
The Jan. 20 meeting of the Environmental Commission addressed a resolution that would support the city’s 87th State Legislative Agenda, a City Council resolution that passed in September of last year. According to the city, the agenda – which has no formal policy directives or fiscal impact – “is used to communicate (local interests) to the […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Safety concerns grow in Austin as the first day of the Texas legislative session dawns
Today is the opening day of the Texas legislative session. And after last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, security is a much bigger concern than it has been in recent memory. Lawmakers are having to consider what was unimaginable a week ago – that demonstrations outside the state Capitol could turn into something much […]