Ahead of the grand opening of the new Williamson County Administration Building on July 14, county employees and officials began moving their operations into the facility this month.

The building is located at 1848 Texas Trail in Georgetown, and will house several county departments, including all of the offices currently operating out of the historic courthouse.

What’s happening: The county received a Certificate of Occupancy for the building this week. The legal department, county manager’s office and risk management office have already begun their transition into the new administration building.

Other departments include the tax office and public affair's office, and all departments will be moved in by June 26. 

Some context: By moving several county operations into the new facility, officials hope to address space constraints marked by a growing county, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Batcity Toys, a specialty collectibles shop, moved its storefront from Austin to Georgetown last month.

The details: Previously located on Parmer Lane, owner Geno Astarita opened the store in 2023.

Batcity Toys buys, sells and trades vintage and modern toys, according to its website.

• 3701 Hwy. 29, Ste. 5105, Georgetown

A new apartment complex in Bee Cave, an EMS station in Bastrop and improvements to the Graham Middle School athletic field are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Twin Oaks Ridge ($29.5 million): Twin Oaks Ridge is a privately funded, $29.5 million mixed-use and leasing development spanning 175,000 square feet.

2. Leah Ave Industrial Building ($18.5 million): This project involves the construction of an 87,306 square-foot ground-up industrial building.

3. New EMS Station for Bastrop County ESD ($2.5 million): The project will consist of an approximately 6,000 square-foot single-story metal building consisting of apparatus bays, day room, kitchen, fitness room, living quarters, restrooms, and associated site amenities.

4. 24 Indoor ($2.3 million): This project is a 20,898 square-foot Interior renovation to create an indoor recreational facility geared towards children.

5. Grisham MS Athletic Field and Field House ($1.98 million): This project involves the conversion of an existing practice field to artificial turf.

The University of Texas at Austin will be the south node of a national workforce development program to connect job seekers with educational opportunities and employers in the semiconductor industry. 

The university announced its selection to lead part of the national effort June 9.

What you need to know: UT's Texas Institute for Electronics will lead the south node of the National Network for Microelectronics Education, which is operated at the national level by the SEMI Foundation. The nonprofit supports workforce growth in the microelectronics industry, which includes semiconductors.

About the program: NNME South will bring together industry employers, K-12 and higher education partners to bridge the gap between available semiconductor industry jobs and the workforce by establishing new pipelines and programs. Not only will these target students, but also veterans and those looking to reskill for a career change. In the program's first year, it will focus on making pathways to careers in the industry more visible, aligning job training with industry needs, expanding training opportunities and connecting to diverse talent pools. 

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.