Austin short-term rental operators can expect to see a streamlined licensing process for their properties and increased enforcement of unsanctioned units, following regulatory changes that went into effect this fall.

What's happening: Changes rolling out in the weeks and months ahead follow an "overhaul" of local policies related to short-term rentals, or STRs, completed this year. The process played out in response to some past legal challenges to Austin's STR system, and in an effort to rein in the thousands of unlicensed STRs believed to be operating around town.

To that end, City Council advanced contracts totaling nearly $2.5 million to assist with STR enforcement and licensing services. The contracts, both with San Diego-based Deckard Technologies, were authorized Nov. 20.

Quote of note: "We look forward to having these tools in place to improve compliance and services for short-term rentals in Austin," Austin Development Services spokesperson Robbie Searcy said in an email.

McLane Family Dental has been serving the Southwest Austin community for 15 years.

Meet the owners: James and Deidra McLane are the local owners of McLane Family Dental. The practice offers general, cosmetic, restorative and sedation dentistry to patients of all ages.

Quote of note: “We’re very thankful to friends and neighbors here in Southwest Austin for an incredible 15 years,” James McLane said.

Austin’s annual New Year’s event with Visit Austin has made some upgrades to this year’s experience with a drone show and expanded media coverage from national outlets.

What to know: Community members can check out headliners The Head and the Heart, who will be joined by local musicians Chaparelle, Tameca Jones and The Point. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the experience with bites from local food trucks, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and a drone show. 

Presented by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the drone show will be a first in Austin’s New Year’s celebration and will kick off the lighting of the downtown skyline with a fireworks finale. As part of their national New Year’s Eve coverage, CNN will broadcast live from Austin.

Stay tuned: The city will share the full lineup of artists in December. Individuals looking to attend the event can also expect transportation and general event tips to be posted on the website in the near future.

• Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin

So far in 2025, Community Impact has covered two election cycles, major transportation updates, development news and local businesses throughout the greater Austin area.

Learn more about the top stories this year to date.

1. Billboard on Bee Caves Road receives resident complaints, city violation notice

2. A regional destination: Texas’ second-largest retail store set to bring visitors to Cedar Park

3. City of Austin to take unauthorized billboard to court

4. Check out these 20 new nonstop destinations from Austin’s airport

5. Billboard in Round Rock faces removal amid ordinance violation

Karl Flocke is Hays County’s new director of Parks and Natural Resources, which recently became an independent department.

“I was born and raised in Hays County and was lucky to be able to explore many of our parks and preserves long before it was ever imagined that the county could have its own park system,” Flocke said in a news release. “When I heard about the position, I jumped at the opportunity to help manage and preserve the land that got me into this field to begin with.”

Going forward: As the population of Hays County continues to grow, the Parks Department is evolving to meet the needs of the community. From 2015 to 2045, the population of Hays County is estimated to grow from 172,419 to 633,000, according to a presentation given by Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith on Oct. 22.

“We struggle to have enough parks and conservation lands needed for our current population,” Flocke said.

On the heels of what proponents have called “historic” property tax relief, some Texas lawmakers are questioning whether the state can afford to continue increasing the tax exemptions passed in 2023 and 2025.

The big picture: Texas homeowners pay property taxes to various local entities, although lawmakers can limit how much entities increase taxes each year and provide state funding to expand tax exemptions.

Texas is spending $51 billion on property tax relief in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 alone and may be required to spend more to maintain existing tax exemptions in future bienniums, lawmakers said.

What they're saying: "We're kind of maxed out at what we can do for property tax reform, from a budget perspective," said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, during a Nov. 20 event.

"$51 billion ongoing, it's a huge amount to continue to support. To think about doing anything more seems very fiscally irresponsible," Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said.

The other side: Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, said creating limits on local government spending would be critical to keeping Texas affordable.