State
BY BEN THOMPSON & CHLOE YOUNG
5 legislative updates from Austin-area lawmakers
The 89th Texas Legislature convened for its ve-month biennial session on Jan. 14 in Austin. The session opened with the Texas Houses’ election of a new speaker, Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, as review of the hundreds of bills led in late 2024 and early 2025 has begun. The Austin area’s pool of lawmakers have brought legislation on a variety of topics aimed at local and statewide issues, and will continue to le and review those proposals through the months ahead.
2 Additional protections proposed for renters Rep. Gina Hinojosa,
3 Leaders look to ban local ‘guaranteed income’ programs
Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, and Sens. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston and Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, led House Bill 530 and Senate bills 395 and 743 to ban local governments from o ering unconditional cash payments. In Austin, millions of dollars have been spent over the past few years on income programs.
D-Austin, led bills that would further protect tenants from last-minute rent increases. House Bill 1185 would require landlords to give written notice of rent increases at least seven days before a tenant is required to provide notice of vacating by the end of
Rep. Gina Hinojosa
1 Creation of high-speed rail line oated
Austin-area Democrats Sen. Sarah Eckhardt and Rep. John Bucy submitted legislation last fall— Senate Bill 424 and House Bill 483—in support of a high-speed rail project that’d link San Antonio, Austin and Dallas along I-35. Lawmakers are calling for Texas to partner with a private entity to build and operate a new rail line capable of running 110 miles per hour. Eckhardt said the rail would reduce vehicle accidents and emissions, and the “excise tax” of tra c that’s imposed on
their lease term. The notice must also state any improvements the tenant’s property would receive under the rent increase. Additionally, HB 1184 would bar landlords from leasing a unit to a tenant at a di erent rate than what was included in the application process. Landlords who violate either of these polices would be required to pay a $100 penalty to the tenant, plus additional fees.
4 Bill aims to strike state fees for rst-year businesses Under House Bill 346 from Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, new businesses starting up around Texas could be in line for some nancial relief. All licensing and registration fees typically imposed during the rst year would be waived.
lower-income workers today. “High-speed rail is part of modernizing our economy, and the longer we wait the more Texans will pay,” she said. The proposal comes as local o cials work to secure support for a new Central Texas rail.
35
Dallas
30
5 E orts to increase school funding underway
Basic allotment over time in Texas
20
45
Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, led House Bill 1770 to raise the basic allotment from $6,160 to $7,500 for the 2025-26 school year. The legislation would then adjust the basic allotment for in ation each year. Goodwin told Community Impact she led the legislation as Austin-area school districts are facing budget de cits and eliminating programs as well as teaching positions. E orts to raise the basic allotment failed during the 2023 legislative session as the additional funding was tied to the passage of school vouchers, she said.
$8K
High speed rail line
$6,160
$5,040
$6K
$4K
Austin
0
10
10
San Antonio
N
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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