The Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3, or Hutto Fire Rescue, finalized its first collective bargaining agreement with the local firefighters union in December.

The specifics: The agreement was approved and signed during the Williamson County ESD No. 3 board meeting on Dec. 18, following about six months of negotiations between department leadership and the Hutto Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 4707.

Voters authorized collective bargaining in November 2024, when Proposition A passed with 71% of the vote, allowing the district to enter into a labor agreement under Texas law. Negotiations began in June 2025 and concluded in about six months, a shorter timeline than is typical for similar agreements, according to district officials.

Check out the top stories from local government coverage of Hutto and Pflugerville in 2025.

Remember this? The Pflugerville mayoral race went to a runoff in November.

Did you know? Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May showed Hutto was the fastest-growing city in the Austin metro by percent population change, and ranked 13th overall in the nation with a year-over-year population increase of 9.4%.

A burn ban for the incorporated areas of Travis County—areas outside of any specific city—was put into effect on Dec. 29. It will remain in effect until Jan. 6 unless lifted sooner by the Travis County Judge or the Travis County Fire Marshal, according to a news release.

Looking for ways to ring in the new year? Check out these events happening in the Austin area, including family friendly events and outings for adults age 21 and older.

This list is not comprehensive, and all events are subject to change. 

Lakeway Polar Bear Plunge
Community members are invited to end the year with a trip down the water slide at Lakeway Swim Center. After a dip in the pool, attendees can hang out and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.

• Dec. 31, 9-10 a.m.
• Free
• 3103 Lakeway Blvd., Austin

• Dec. 31, 8-11 p.m.
• Free
• 3519B, N. RM 620, Austin

Approximately three dozen new Texas laws are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, impacting how artificial intelligence is used in state government, when local officials can raise taxes after natural disasters and how much of businesses' inventory is taxed.

The background: The changes come after Texas’s biennial legislative session ended in early June. Gov. Greg Abbott signed over 1,100 laws passed by state lawmakers, many of which took effect in June or September.

The details: Some of the bills becoming law in the new year are:

• House Bill 9, which will expand a tax exemption for business owners
• House Bill 30, which will tighten regulations on counties' and cities' abilities to raise tax rates after natural disasters
• House Bill 149, which will regulate the fast-growing AI industry
• House Bill 247, which will exempt certain border security infrastructure from property tax increases
• House Bill 1399, which will create a property tax exemption for stores selling animal feed
• House Bill 2508, which will establish a property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of certain military members