Austin officials asked to revise new development rules enacted under the Home Ownership for Middle-income Empowerment, or HOME, initiative, more than two years after the residential housing policy first went into effect.

HOME's two phases, approved in 2023 and 2024, generally permitted up to three units of housing on most of Austin's residential lots and reduced the amount of land needed to build a house. While construction under HOME is taking place citywide, several city officials said edits to the development code are now needed to improve its "clarity and predictability" after some projects faced challenges. City Council passed a resolution for technical HOME code updates 9-1.

The vote came soon after a new report from the Austin Board of Realtors found HOME units have been selling for significantly less than their traditional counterparts in the housing market—but still well above levels affordable to the median Austin household.

Austin ISD officials shared some preliminary reductions that may be made to the fiscal year 2026-27 budget May 5. The proposed reductions come as the district faces a budget shortfall that has grown to $181 million for FY 2026-27.

The breakdown: As of May 5, AISD officials have identified $73.8 million in reductions to central and department budgets. This will include eliminating vacancies. Staff anticipates $45 million in revenue from real estate monetization, according to district documents. District officials have identified $33.9 million in proposed reductions to campus budgets. This will likely include new student-to-teacher ratios and increased class sizes at some campuses, updated special education and bilingual stipend criteria, and changes to technology, including software transitions.

Going forward: Community members will have the chance to engage with district staff regarding the budget process May 9 at 11 a.m. virtually.

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation updates. 

Ongoing projects
Oak Hill Parkway
Project: The Texas Department of Transportation is currently reconstructing 7 miles of Hwy. 290 in Oak Hill, transforming the existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a six-lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths.
Update: As early as mid-May, the Hwy. 290 and SH 71 flyovers will open. The Convict Hill cross-street bridge opened in April.

• Timeline: 2022-26

• Cost: $677 million

• Funding source: TxDOT

Completed projects
Gattis School Road Segment 3
Project: The city of Round Rock is expanding Gattis School Road—from A.W. Grimes Boulevard to Double Creek Drive—into a six-lane divided roadway, and adding pedestrian improvements, bicycle enhancements and right- and left-turn bays with new traffic signals to A.W. Grimes and Double Creek.
Update: Construction on segment 3 of the road was completed in May. Construction on segment 6 is still ongoing and expected to be complete by late 2027.

• Timeline: 2024-27

• Cost: $26 million (segment 3)

• Funding source: type B sales tax revenue (segment 3)

Following pressure from summer camp operators, lawmakers and legislative leaders, Texas is suspending a requirement that all camps install “end-to-end” fiber-optic internet infrastructure before opening this summer.

The background: After catastrophic flooding in Central Texas killed more than 130 people—including 28 deaths at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp—last July, state lawmakers passed a pair of laws designed to strengthen safety and emergency preparedness requirements for all Texas summer camps. One provision of the laws requires that camps install two types of broadband internet, including a fiber-optic system.

Nineteen camp operators sued the state over the fiber-optic rule in April, citing million-dollar installation fees and limited access to fiber-optic services in rural parts of Texas.

What's happening: The Department of State Health Services, which licenses youth camps, said it reached an agreement with the camp operators May 7. Under the agreement, Texas camps that maintain “redundant” broadband internet services—such as cellular, microwave or satellite technology—will not have their license revoked or denied as long as they meet all other safety requirements.