The Dripping Springs ISD bus fleet is now in 100% compliance with Senate Bill 546, which requires all public school-operated buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts.

DSISD Chief Operations Officer Scott Berry gave an SB 546 Transportation Report at an April 27 meeting.

At a glance: DSISD replaced 16 buses and retrofitted 37. Retrofitting is the process of removing old seats and replacing them with seats equipped with three-point seat belts. This process occurred over several years and cost the district $4.4 million.

By the numbers: District officials planned to fund buses with the 2023 and 2025 voter-approved bonds. The 2023 bond provided approximately $2 million for bus replacement, and the 2025 bond provided roughly $6 million for transportation, including seat belts and bus replacement.

The Travis Central Appraisal District has begun releasing 2026 property value appraisals to Travis County homeowners. 

While the county’s single-family home market values slightly decreased, homeowners may want to consider protesting their appraisal if they believe it is too high, said Taylor Smith, deputy director of government affairs for the Austin Board of Realtors, in an interview with Community Impact.

“Take a moment, look at your notice of appraised value that you received, confirm that your exemptions were applied correctly, and then consider protesting so that you can lower that even further for future savings down the line,” Smith said.

The overview: TCAD began mailing appraisal notices to more than 427,000 property owners in late March, according to TCAD information. 

If a property owner believes their appraisal is incorrect, they may file a protest through the TCAD's online portal by the May 15 deadline or 30 days after the notice was mailed. By lowering a property’s appraised value, homeowners can see property tax savings in this year and future fiscal years, Smith said.

Since Aug. 12, 2025, the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s San Antonio Pool has been under a Stage 4 drought designation, reducing permit holders’ authorized annual water withdrawals by 40%. The EAA announced a transition from Stage 4 drought to Stage 3, which will increase allowed pumping.

What happened: The Stage 3 drought designation went into effect Sunday, April 26, as a result of improved aquifer conditions, according to an EAA news release. The San Antonio Pool provides water to permit holders in Medina, Bexar and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and Hays counties.

The impact: Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than 3 acre-feet annually must reduce the amount of water withdrawn by 35% of their normal permitted allowance during the days the Stage 3 drought is active, according to the Critical Period Management Plan.

The reductions apply to industrial users, agricultural users and water utilities permitted to pump from the aquifer. All impacted permit holders must report pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis.

From road construction in Georgetown to a skatepark in Kyle, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Ronald Regan Boulevard Widening ($29.7 million): This project includes the construction of new lanes and intersection improvements on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, including drainage structures, bridges, retaining walls, lighting, signals and more.

2. Expo Center Park and Ride ($17.3 million): This project involves construction of a new park-and-ride. It will include bus bays and electric vehicle charging stations.

3. Round Rock ISD Hartfield PAC Renovation ($6 million): Construction will begin next year on a total roof replacement, mechanical equipment replacement, public address system upgrade, and interior other work, including replacement of flooring and wall finishes in the lobby and green room.

4. Gregg-Clarke Skatepark ($3.1 million): The Kyle skatepark will include approximately 34,000 square feet of concrete skatepark and pump track.

5. Creekview Vet Clinic ($2 million): Construction will begin in June on a vet clinic in New Braunfels.

Over 130 Central Texas residents and visitors died over the July 4 weekend as an intense rainstorm and flooding swept through the region. Among them were 28 deaths at Camp Mystic: 25 young campers, two 18-year-old counselors and Richard "Dick" Eastland, the camp's executive director.

The private Christian girls camp has been under scrutiny for the actions camp leaders took to attempt to save campers in cabins near the Guadalupe River.

What's happening: During the second day of public hearings April 28, a panel of lawmakers investigating the July 4 flood was scheduled to hear testimony from:

• The Eastland family, which owns and operates Camp Mystic

• The head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management

• Leaders from the Texas Department of State Health Services

• Flood victims' families

• The parents of some campers who survived the flood

Keep reading for details about the marathon hearing April 28.