While the Legislature has improved the franchise process, it has left franchise fees at high levels. So while the process is now more efficient, consumers still pay fees that providerevenues for cities far above what it costs to manage the public ROW.
Economy
Austin’s Simple Fix for Soaring Housing Costs
After years of watching home prices skyrocket out of reach for first responders, nurses, and young families, in December 2023, Austin city council voted to rewrite its zoning code. The first phase of its HOME Initiative—known as HOME-1—effectively allowed up to three homes on most lots that previously could host only one. A year later,...
December 9, 2025