[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6616768,"mediaKeyId","2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc","parentId",2850157,"title","Waco officials monitoring more than 2,100 bills that affect cities as Texas Legislature advances","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3649000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc&start=3649&end=3649","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc/thumbnail_3649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6616768/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-officials-monitoring-more-than-2100-bills-that-affect-cities-as-Texas-Legislature-advances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616768-c4757f4da82daafc73208419d18dd9ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098011&Signature=k6k9gHnt-h9J61LwDhVGz1lHsxDGtOWLL3tPrT9ybCuMbPKn5VAPRL2LAkd6qIbjsVvwltCyYdXKdVxLYgQEA6AivFLdXGeGnlyhy6N~WeK63ms078FfoPPY26WDiNyzYKdVcSN7RkI~oli5-JaQZAw9LI-LRcYKVYAdtDdTX~GYAAvvkl8mUA-4k9Zs3vdKXey733Hvtk9eWDvjH6GHGTu-Zh3VxyH5YktOnAF4iMgMUhhOEv2V7w-oC0NQRlMEiWnuf~e-0t6xHmZ0Gn5irEaUrONH8ZYZSI~g5~cw2AvlrYUZC~8waBx~eyPQCVgvcDQlcJ~qsqQos1cNA1C63g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Waco, TX","date","2025-04-02T15:18:40.68Z","article","Ashley Notcher, chief of staff to the city manager, briefed the Waco City Council at its April 1 work session on the mid‑session status of the Texas Legislature and federal appropriation planning affecting the city.

Notcher said the bill‑filing deadline has passed and that lawmakers filed roughly 6,635 bills; of those, she said, more than 2,100 contain provisions that affect cities. “As we progress through April and May, we will see many of those bills start to drop off as the ones that are not moving,” she said, noting a May 12 committee reporting deadline and a scheduled sine die target in early June.

She highlighted state priorities with direct implications for Waco — property tax relief, water investments, education savings accounts, housing and changes to land‑use authority — and said the city has been active in advocacy. Notcher said the city provided testimony in support of House Bill 1080 (allowing alternative media postings in lieu of newspaper notices where viewership metrics justify it) and submitted letters in support of House Bill 2626, which would create a Central Texas Water Alliance to coordinate water services across counties and water districts.

Notcher reviewed several topic areas that could affect municipal operations if bills pass in their current form: modifications to property‑tax rules and election timing; proposals to preempt local rules on accessory dwelling units and multifamily development; bills affecting extraterritorial jurisdiction and annexation; restrictions on development moratoria and third‑party plan review; and potential changes to franchise and cable fees for right‑of‑way use. She also noted public‑safety bills under consideration, including measures related to active‑shooter planning and cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

On fiscal matters, Notcher said the state budget proposals totaled about $335 billion in the biennium, with roughly $24 billion in projected surplus and about $28 billion directed toward the state stabilization fund; she said those numbers mean funding is being discussed for some governor and lieutenant governor priorities. On federal appropriations, Notcher said guidance for fiscal 2026 earmarks was not yet issued but the city has sent requests to Congress for $5 million each to support air‑traffic‑control tower rehabilitation, the Flat Creek reuse project and a Lake Waco Watershed Protection Program.

Council members expressed concern about proposals that would limit municipal financing options — including tighter rules on certificates of obligation and bond elections — and urged residents to engage with state lawmakers. Notcher said city staff will continue weekly monitoring and provide council updates, and that the city remains prepared to testify or submit comments as bills are posted to committee agendas.

Notcher did not present formal council actions in this update; the briefing was informational and intended to guide subsequent advocacy and council direction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Work Session (April 1, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Chief of staff Ashley Notcher told the Waco City Council that 6,635 bills were filed this session and more than 2,100 have potential impacts for cities; she highlighted priority topics including property tax, water infrastructure, housing and potential changes to municipal authority over zoning and annexation.","taxTitle","Waco, McLennan County, Texas","taxId",2807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6616773,"Waco libraries add Canopy streaming, early‑literacy stations, app and expand summer reading program",1129,2176000,3305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc&start=2176&end=3305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc/thumbnail_2176000.jpg","/articles/6616773/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-libraries-add-Canopy-streaming-earlyliteracy-stations-app-and-expand-summer-reading-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616773-c91116fe7ae92b3fd5ed60e5f4abc468/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098011&Signature=YWrUpZmvOyoYyiFqi8I22qyo1acIWLiYUMvH6-JcW-CT-2oTomb--YFufg6rXTQ4HRVQLx7jxM9hljnAl6govgiK4H0V-EYRJ4mX0LebBPXcp8z3wvgEqfcQIKWeQ~N6G9hnRINKe-bjMHV8j52lBusi0H3MLL2n6B9UJYUOvdQsrgXvhOPPzvs34g4Zi2xqXEX3WudB5A7TsamB7AsZ0MOgFZbCcV-ikhiFq1SVBhHb3vGfDFZrVPJP23nEIb0FTjsuvjgCOWiuNgEvGTBuogTqWOZ-GRPLB2s1VjAXTWtgyNqqEwiMHJhV~icxjJJsQUEXWbr7DiH8QS~~4UP5Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roberto Zapata, director of Library and Cultural Assets, briefed the Waco City Council on April 1 about new library services and upcoming programming that aim to expand digital access and early‑literacy supports across the city.

“We officially launched Canopy in December,” Zapata said, describing the library’s new streaming platform for adult cardholders and a separate Canopy Kids feed with no ticket limits. He reported roughly 2,158 unique plays on Canopy in March and said the platform includes public performance rights the library can use for events.

Zapata said the library deployed “all in one” touchscreen early‑literacy stations across all four branches; each unit serves children ages 2–8, is preloaded with about 70 educational programs and offers English/Spanish bilingual options. The Waco Foundation funded the stations, Zapata said.

He told council the library purchased two self‑checkout kiosks for the east and south branches (funded by the friends group) and plans to launch a library app on May 1 that will let patrons check out materials on their phones by scanning items’ RFID tags. The system is also pursuing an E‑rate grant through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to support a hotspot‑lending program and is evaluating book lockers and vending machines to expand 24/7 access to holds.

Zapata said the mayor’s summer reading challenge will open May 1 through the Beanstack app, will include more than 100 programs (74 for children), and will feature prizes and community partner incentives. He reported the library had about 2,700 participants last year and said staff expect to grow participation this year.

Councilmembers praised the library’s outreach and the department’s recent award: Zapata said the library earned a Texas Municipal Library Directors Association achievement for 2024, placing it in the top 19% of Texas libraries. Council members asked about programming for adults who do not fit traditional senior categories and about marketing to new and lapsed users; Zapata said staff are developing targeted communications and pursuing September’s National Library Card Month for outreach.

The presentation did not request immediate council action; Zapata said staff will return with updates on app rollout and other pilot projects.","Waco’s director of library and cultural assets told the City Council the library system launched the Canopy streaming service in December, installed early‑literacy touchscreen stations at four branches, will launch a library app May 1 and intends to expand the mayor’s summer reading challenge.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6616778,"TSTC worksite opens in Waco and begins short-term training with local employers",1191,1009000,2200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc&start=1009&end=2200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850157-b3d2ff1a2581b9a6d188d89d3a3aaadc/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6616778/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/TSTC-worksite-opens-in-Waco-and-begins-short-term-training-with-local-employers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616778-83be2f0cc76237d6083828888ce45202/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098011&Signature=nCBqINoSWTNWqsWs8YweREWAsCfALpcKBe-ub52ozoJuwy~5iq82lN3PrHamOiZjRnm7ir7~sRiVH7dvkwwu3FjnAgFnqgD2FGGTJ-0cyd7DHx0PjlzAjfpO2V9Ta8nDkQz7MGsKp4DjEKso1WpYDa8PS-0-jJbEamoc14tyol8o0O4wHldvuSt8V-VXjz7U1cQws2LA8EDbdUHFKMoEglvJ3jcI1ndunR1Ee9ujwJlQQgS8LVkZLObLHb8~Kmx9Cfqd3f~IfOd2UEtXwi0~4bL7jm7TvfVYdS3uApdCRlzSVyZWzaj7eiqlzA5Y0b1ydwJA1coa8IpmGKQwl8GzAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Texas State Technical College officials briefed the Waco City Council at its April 1 work session on the new TSTC worksite, a $17,000,000 partnership among the college, the city of Waco and McLennan County that opened Feb. 13 and is providing short-term, employer-aligned training.

“this is a collaboration, the first of its kind, partnership between the city of Waco, and McLennan County and Texas State Technical College in an effort to address the skilled workforce needs of our region,” Provost Beth Wooten said during the presentation.

The facility, located in the industrial park, was built with large, mobile bays and flexible equipment to allow rapid changes to curriculum based on employer needs, Wooten said. Casey Darnell, TSTC’s vice president and senior executive director who manages day-to-day operations at the worksite, said training began in February and has included OSHA classes, forklift training, NCCER core modules, industrial electrical and mechanical coursework and customized onboarding for employers.

“We opened the doors on February 13,” Darnell said. She told council members that TSTC has delivered training to Graphic Packaging (a paper and packaging firm), Sanderson Farms and others; she said the worksite will continue classes in April and June as partner companies ramp up hiring. Darnell said TSTC expects to offer summer camps and industry-based credentials in partnership with local high schools and the Greater Waco Chamber’s teacher externship program.

City Manager Bradley Ford and multiple council members praised the speed of the project’s delivery and the role the worksite plays in business attraction. Councilmember George Chase and others noted that TSTC had already trained close to 200 Graphic Packaging employees ahead of that firm's plant opening, a result council members said demonstrates the worksite’s intended purpose.

TSTC said the worksite’s advisory committee—co-chaired by Rick Tullis and Jacob Cox of Phallis Automation—drives curriculum so training matches employers’ immediate needs. Wooten and Darnell listed community partners engaged in outreach and recruitment, including Prosper Waco, the McGregor Chamber, the Central Texas African American and Hispanic chambers, Mission Waco and Heroes Make America.

Councilmembers asked how the facility will adapt to changing employer needs; Wooten noted the equipment is on wheels and bays can be reconfigured. Darnell described a recent example in which a scheduled forklift class moved indoors and staff reshuffled equipment to accommodate weather without canceling training.

The presentation did not include a request for council action; TSTC leaders said they will continue regular updates as programming expands.

The worksite update concluded with council members encouraging a media tour to showcase the facility to prospective employers and to highlight the partnership’s early training numbers.","Texas State Technical College officials told the Waco City Council that a $17 million, city–county–TSTC worksite opened Feb. 13 and has already begun short-term, employer-aligned training for local businesses including Graphic Packaging and Sanderson Farms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waco officials monitoring more than 2,100 bills that affect cities as Texas Legislature advances

Waco libraries add Canopy streaming, early‑literacy stations, app and expand summer reading program

TSTC worksite opens in Waco and begins short-term training with local employers