Day one of bill filing: license plate readers, parking rules, city lobbying and data center breaks are on the table for 2027

Texas lawmakers filed more than 1,260 bills on Monday, the first day of filing for the 90th Legislature, the Texas Tribune reported. The session opens Jan. 12, and filing runs through March 12. Most first-day bills never become law, but they show what lawmakers want to talk about.

We checked the bills that would change what Austin City Hall can do against Texas Legislature Online, which lists each bill's author and caption, and against our own records of the council's votes.

License plate readers

HB 763, by Rep. Mary González, is "relating to the use of automatic license plate reader systems." The Tribune described a first-day bill that would ban Flock cameras and similar readers outright. HB 847, by Rep. Brian Harrison, would limit how police use them.

Our records: Austin has already been through this. In March 2025 the council voted 8-3 to extend APD's plate reader pilot, and city leaders later shelved a contract extension. In April the council adopted the TRUST Act, 10-0, which sets rules for buying and using any surveillance technology. Our earlier story has the history.

Parking minimums

SB 141, by Sen. José Menéndez, is about "the authority of a political subdivision to require a minimum amount of parking spaces." The Tribune said it would eliminate all city parking requirements.

Our records: Austin dropped most parking minimums citywide in an 8-2 vote in November 2023, the Texas Tribune reported then. A state law would mostly affect other cities.

City lobbying

HB 117, by Rep. Mike Olcott, covers "the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities." The Tribune said it would ban local governments from hiring lobbyists.

Our records: On Jan. 22 the council voted 11-0 to extend its contract with Sampson Public Affairs for state agency and legislative representation, up to $96,000 for one year. The council's 2027 legislative program, adopted 10-0 in July, is the list of what those lobbyists and the city's Government Relations office will push for.

Data centers

Sen. Judith Zaffirini filed several data center bills. SB 36 would change the eligibility of data centers for "certain incentive programs offered by the state and local governments." SB 34 deals with county authority over large electricity users. SB 293, by Sen. Joan Huffman, would repeal state sales tax exemptions for data centers. Community Impact reported that the repeal had support from 23 of 31 senators and senators-elect as of Monday.

Our records: In August the council voted 11-0 to start writing Austin's first data center land use rules. Staff plan to bring them to the council on Dec. 3, as we reported.

Immigration agreements

HB 123, by Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, and SB 99, by Menéndez, would repeal the 2025 laws requiring certain sheriffs to sign agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those agreements bind county sheriffs, such as Travis County's, not city police. The city's own question is how APD works with ICE. Our Nov. 10 story covers the mayor's request to rewrite APD's rules.

Austin's own delegation

Rep. John Bucy of Austin filed HB 101, which would expand Medicaid eligibility, and HB 270, on state money for high-speed rail. The Tribune described HB 270 as directing TxDOT to start a rail line of more than 110 mph along I-35.

What's next

Bills are assigned to committees after the session opens Jan. 12. The council's new members, including three chosen in the Dec. 12 runoffs, take office Jan. 6. Our earlier story lists what the city asked the Legislature for.