At its April 16, 2025 meeting, the San Antonio City Council received a monthly update on the Texas Legislature from Sally, the city's government affairs representative, and discussed a range of state bills that city staff said could affect local authority, housing policy and disaster response.

The update matters because several bills discussed would change legal and operational responsibilities for cities. Sally said the Legislature is in its 89th session with about seven weeks remaining, and that committee deadlines are approaching. She reported the Texas House had advanced its version of the two-year budget and briefed the council on multiple individual bills that staff are tracking.

Sally told the council that HB 150 would place a state cyber command within the University of Texas system and create a statewide cyber strategy. "La HB 150 establece que este comando sea parte de la institución del sistema de la Universidad de Texas," she said. Councilmembers praised the prospect of locating the cyber command in San Antonio; Councilmember White said it was "a great win" for the city and thanked staff and local legislators for their work to attract the effort.

Staff also updated the council on South Texas Parkway planning. Sally said there were three community meetings on April 7 with "more than 50 people" participating, stakeholder and technical-advisory committee meetings in mid-April, Planning Commission consideration to follow, and a planned presentation to the City Council on May 8; major construction for the MPO project is expected in summer 2026.

On housing and tenant issues, staff briefed the council on a bill identified in the briefing as HB 32 that would change eviction procedures. Sally said the bill would require landlords to provide written notice before pursuing evictions and that, by her account, the bill would shorten the current eviction timeline: "Ahorita ese proceso puede tomar de 6 a 10 semanas, y ahorita ese proceso va a tomar 2 semanas," she said. She also told the council that staff did not expect additional city-funded relocation requirements under that proposal.

Councilmembers pressed staff for details about other housing measures in the session, including workforce-housing incentives and potential changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and mixed-use zoning. Staff said some bills would relax local ADU rules and allow broader mixed-use allowances, but emphasized the city would need to retain local control over zoning and permitting where possible.

Sally reported a pending bill (described in the briefing as one introduced to require gubernatorial oversight of temporary disaster shelters) that would give the governor and the Texas Department of Public Safety authority to approve or deny local temporary housing or emergency shelter operations. "Nosotros nos oponemos a este proyecto de ley," Sally said of that proposal, and she warned the city could face restrictions on quick local responses to disasters if the measure becomes law. The briefing flagged another bill (identified in the presentation as HB 42 83) that would add penalties for municipalities that violate state law, including fines that Sally said could reach "$3,000 per day" and could bar annexation or bond issuance while a violation remained uncorrected.

Several councilmembers raised concerns about the scope and consequences of bills that would limit local discretion. Councilmember Caviaja Ávila said SB 33, which would restrict use of public funds for certain abortion-related support services such as lodging and travel, is "an attack on local government" and confirmed the council had previously taken a formal opposing position. Multiple councilmembers asked staff to continue active tracking and advocacy as bills move through committees.

Council discussion also touched on education-related matters (including voucher proposals and potential funding impacts on public education), public-safety pension legislation, and funding and program details for workforce-development incentives. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with the city's legislative delegation and with contracted lobbyists when authorized by the council.

The council directed staff to keep the body updated as bills reach committee hearings and floor votes and to return with follow-up information on specific impacts — for example, how a shelter-approval requirement might change the number of residents the city can place in temporary housing during disasters. No new formal votes on city positions were taken during the April 16 briefing; councilmembers reiterated that staff should continue to monitor the session and present recommended actions back to the council when appropriate.

The council's next regular agenda item addressing state-legislative activity is scheduled for follow-up as bills approach key committee deadlines and potential floor action.