Reporting of Lobbyist Interactions with Austin Officials Shifts
The Austin City Council has overhauled the city’s lobbying regulations, significantly changing how influence is tracked at City Hall.
While the new rules technically expand what must be reported, they shift the burden of transparency from city departments to the lobbyists themselves—a move that has sparked concerns over public accountability.
Key Changes to Lobbying Rules
- Expanded Reporting Scope: Lobbyists are now required to report all interactions with city officials, moving beyond the previous requirement of only disclosing scheduled meetings.
- Shift in Responsibility: The duty to report no longer falls on city departments. Instead, lobbyists are solely responsible for documenting and disclosing their own activities.
- Elimination of Written Disclosures: The update removes the requirement for lobbyists to provide written notice to departments regarding their meetings or whether they are receiving compensation for their services.
Transparency Concerns
The council was not unanimous in this decision. Council members Vanessa Fuentes and Ryan Alter voted against the measure, cautioning that removing departmental oversight could make it significantly harder for the public to monitor who is influencing city policy. By eliminating the requirement for departments to provide a reporting method, critics argue the city is losing a vital layer of independent verification.
A summary of actions taken at Thursday’s Austin City Council meeting:
Approved on Consent
- Amended lobbyist regulation ordinance (City Code Chapter 4-8) to update reporting requirements
- Authorized a $107,803 economic development agreement with The Vortex over five years
- Authorized amendment to Master Development Agreement with Greystar/HACA for mixed-use development at 800 E. St. John Ave
- Approved up to $575M in water/wastewater revenue bonds, partly for Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Authorized temporary staffing contracts totaling up to ~$5.6M with two vendors
- Authorized a $49.6M insurance broker contract for Austin-Bergstrom Airport
- Authorized an $800K construction safety management contract for Austin-Bergstrom Airport
- Authorized a $3.5M contract for channelizer posts and barricades
- Authorized a $1.5M contract for river rock/waterline bedding material
- Authorized a $450K contract for youth VOX books for Austin Public Library
- Ratified and extended a ~$1.07M contract for APD vehicle parts and repair services
- Authorized a $600K DocuSign enterprise license contract
- Authorized a $450K strategic consulting contract for Austin Energy
- Authorized a $600K job order for the CTECC Entrance/Exit Driveway Leveling project
- Authorized a $600M contingency increase on the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion (revised total: $1.5B)
- Authorized a $500K amendment extending Autodesk solutions for Austin Energy
- Authorized lease amendments for two tenants at Two Barton Skyway Building
- Extended the Contingent Hiring Pilot Program through December 2026
- Approved police reserve force appointments
- Added $100K to Meals on Wheels Central Texas home-delivered meals agreement
- Authorized an agreement with The Recycling Partnership for a residential recycling study
- Authorized extension of wholesale water/wastewater contract with Shady Hollow MUD
- Approved increasing an EPA WIFIA loan cap from ~$447M to $1B for Walnut Creek expansion
- Approved board/commission appointments and related waivers
- Initiated rezoning of ~445 acres (Jimmy Clay and Roy Kizer Golf Courses)
- Directed review of City and Travis County summer internship/youth employment programs
Public Hearings
- Approved disannexation of ~0.247 acres at 6704 Pixie Cove
- Approved disannexation of ~0.146 acres at 3107–3113 Brass Buttons Trail
Zoning Cases
- Approved rezoning at 1623/1701½ W. Parmer Lane to GR-MU-CO
- Postponed rezoning at 108 W. Gibson St. to March 26 (neighborhood request)
- Approved rezoning at 1700/1704 Lightsey Road to SF-6
- Failed: Neighborhood plan amendment and rezoning at 2108/2110 E. 22nd Street
- Approved neighborhood plan amendment and rezoning at 4980–5030 W. US 290 Westbound to mixed use
- Postponed rezoning at 1811 E. Cesar Chavez to March 26 (applicant request)
- Failed: Second/third readings of Montopolis-Fairway Mixed Use neighborhood plan amendment and rezoning
Austin Housing Finance Corporation
- Approved a $5.5M loan for The Bloom at Lamar Square affordable multifamily development
- Approved November 2025 AHFC board meeting minutes
Travis County is working to balance its budget during an especially tough economic climate. The county is facing a deficit of more than $13 million. Travis County Judge Andy Brown discusses what contributed to the shortfall.
A violent assault occurred inside the Austin Central Library’s downtown branch early Wednesday when a man—identified by police as 30‑year‑old Daniel Vasquez—allegedly attacked another patron on the fourth floor, striking the victim in the head without provocation and then repeatedly stomping on their head, leaving significant blood at the scene and causing life‑threatening injuries; police and paramedics responded around 11:47 a.m., and the victim was rushed to the hospital while Vasquez was taken into custody as the investigation continues.
Ironically, this incident occurred while APD Chief Lisa Davis was in the building for a meeting with APL staff about improving security protocols and coordination with police. Davis made the arrest herself.
Wednesday, a fatal confrontation occurred at the PlainsCapital Bank located at 201 West 5th Street in downtown Austin. According to the Austin Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance call at approximately 3:45 p.m. involving an unidentified man in a wheelchair who had reportedly been harassing bank employees on multiple occasions. During the encounter, the man allegedly punched a security guard in the face, leading the guard to strike him back in self-defense.
Police are requesting the public’s help with identifying a suspect in connection to a hit-and-run incident last month in South Austin.
Two men with active warrants were taken into custody this week in Caldwell County.
Capital Area Crime Stoppers is looking for a man wanted on drug charges.
Following the March 1 mass shooting on West 6th Street that left at least 15 injured and four others – including the gunman – dead, Austin police are now explaining why the agency did not request an active shooter alert to warn people nearby of potential danger.
The grieving and healing process continues in the wake of the mass shooting on West Sixth Street that has killed three people and injured almost 20 others.
APD’s Victim Services Unit is helping those affected.
Investigators are working to determine what caused an apartment fire in southeast Austin early Wednesday morning that killed three children and injured several others, including a firefighter.
Stage 3 emergency water restrictions remain in place for City of Pflugerville water customers while lake levels recover.
Authorities will be conducting a prescribed burn today on the east side of Walter E. Long Lake.
The Great Lawn at Zilker Park will temporarily close today for fertilizer application.
Demonstrators will gather downtown today to speak out against SXSW’s partnership with Capital Factory, a local tech incubator with ties to scores of defense contractors and consultants. (KUT 90.5)
South By Southwest is bringing big crowds to downtown Austin, along with several road closures.
BREAKING: Extremely long wait times at @AustinAirport Friday morning. Video is from around 5:30 am. pic.twitter.com/mTEZORsMWK
— Ava Brendgord KXAN (@avabrendgord_tv) March 13, 2026
The expansion of MoPac is sparking debate. Environmental and transportation groups formed the Better MoPac Coalition to push back against the project.
PODCAST
Welcome to SXSW 2026 ! If you’re planning on heading downtown, things might look a little different this year. On this week’s Friday News Round Up, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to get you up to speed on the changes happening during SXSW, from street closures and venue shifts to updated safety protocols. Plus, why a historic Austin building was torn down to make room for a California restaurant and why Cheer Up Charlies continues to face challenges. And if SXSW isn’t your scene, the team shares a few non-festival events happening in and out of town this weekend.
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
As we inch further into severe weather season, now is a good time to bust some myths (and reinforce some truths) about thunderstorms.
Williamson County reopened its ballot counting for the March primary on Thursday after finding an additional 69 Republican ballots.
Primary ballots cast by Democratic voters in Dallas who got in line to vote after 7 p.m. won’t be tallied, after the county Democratic party Thursday withdrew a lawsuit seeking to have them counted. (Texas Tribune)
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the results of the 2026 U.S. Senate Primary Elections in Texas, including how James Talarico overcame his initial disadvantages to win the Democratic nomination over Jasmine Crockett, and the politics of the looming run off between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton in the Republican race.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Wednesday that the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo has removed her from her Ex-Officio Director position, adding that the security footage she recently received “has not shown any relevant footage.” (Houston Chronicle)
Austin-based software giant Oracle has set aside billions for restructuring, raising concerns about potential job cuts as the company ramps up spending on artificial intelligence tools and data center infrastructure. (My San Antonio)
Texas DPS officials seized more than 500 pounds of drugs during an early morning traffic stop Wednesday on I-35.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, a new oil refinery will be built in the United States, in Brownsville.
Access to the Chisos Basin is set to close May 1 as work begins on a twice-delayed project
Texas public school districts have recently become inundated with requests for Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs. (Houston Public Media)
A parasitic pest moving north through Mexico has halted the flow of cattle from the Mexico to the United States. Calves born in Mexico are often sold to feedlots in Texas and beyond so they can gain weight before slaughter. (Texas Standard)
In Corpus Christi, city leaders are in “panic mode” as the area faces growing water concerns.
SPORTS
At a dinner with owners and leaders of professional sports teams in Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an openness to sports betting. A day later, that support was gone. (D)
NBA: Here’s a switch. The Dallas Mavericks won last night while the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs lost.
The Spurs are off tonight. Both the Mavericks and Rockets are on the schedule.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Action in the SEC Tournament and Big 12 Thursday.
Final: ISU 75, Tech 53
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 12, 2026
NHL: Siete.
Jason Robertson had two goals and two assists to tie a career high in points and Jamie Benn also scored twice as the surging Dallas Stars beat the Edmonton Oilers 7-2 on Thursday night. (Associated Press)
Dallas is off tonight and are home tomorrow night hosting Detroit.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The Texas Longhorns host the Ole Miss Rebels this weekend.
Game 1 is tonight.
Waterloo Records is an Austin institution that helped put the city’s music scene on the map. Now, the record store is getting its own remaster in a new location. Austin InSight’s Laura Laughead takes you inside.
