Kyle residents may soon gain easier access to Hays County services, as the construction of a new administrative building is making progress.

Latest update: Hays County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with HDR Architecture for design services for the building, not to exceed $4.13 million, at a Dec. 2 meeting.

Breaking it down: The Eastside Campus will hold satellite offices for several county services, including:

• Hays County Health Department
• Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
• Office of Emergency Services
• Hays County Administrator's Office
• Hays County Sheriff's Office
• Veteran Services Office

The team at Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle held a celebration Nov. 6 to mark its recent five-star rating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2025 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, according to a news release.

Some context: Ascension Seton Hays received the five-star rating even as the national average hospital rating decreased in 2025.

CMS reported a star score for 2,891 U.S. hospitals, with the national average star rating decreasing from 3.13 stars in 2024 to 3.08 stars in 2025.

“There are not that many hospitals that reach this level of excellence,” said Ascension Seton Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Samson Jesudass, in the release. “To earn three five-star ratings in four years shows consistency, focus, and a way of life centered on excellence. When you walk into this hospital, you can be confident you’re receiving the very best care.”

Something to note: The hospital also received a 5-star rating in 2022 and 2024.

• 6001 Kyle Parkway, Kyle

A dozen new Texas laws are scheduled to take effect Dec. 4. The new laws come 90 days after the end of a special legislative session that took place this summer.

The overview: Some of the bills becoming law Dec. 4 include:

• House Bill 8, which will replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, with three shorter exams beginning in fall 2027
• House Bill 18, which is designed to deter future legislators from leaving the Texas Capitol to prevent a legislative chamber from considering legislation, known as breaking quorum
• Senate Bill 54, which will roll back a short-lived rule that allowed registered Texas voters who moved within a county to update their address at the polls and immediately vote in their new precinct