Houston City Council
Coverage of Houston City Council in the Nexus archive.
- Houston City Council approves $18 billion, 5-year capital improvement plan. Many existing projects are delayed
Houston City Council approved an $18 billion, 5-year capital improvement plan focused on infrastructure investments. However, existing projects are frequently delayed, and many Houstonians face challenges getting neighborhood improvements added to the plan.
- Houston City Council approves new pedestrian, bike route between Memorial Park and Uptown
Houston City Council approved a new pedestrian and bike route between Memorial Park and Uptown. The $22.5 million shared-use trail and bridge will cross Loop 610 near Buffalo Bayou, connecting Post Oak Boulevard and Woodway Drive in the Galleria area.
- City of Houston passes Whitmire’s $7.5-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027
Houston City Council approved Mayor John Whitmire’s $7.5-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 with a 15 to 1 vote. Council Member Edward Pollard opposed the plan, calling it 'fiscally irresponsible.'
- Sanctuary city backs off after GOP governor put it in ‘crisis’ mode with $110 million threat
Houston City Council reversed a sanctuary-style policy limiting cooperation with ICE after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to withhold $110 million in state funding. The amended policy allows police to extend detentions for ICE-related purposes if justified by other law enforcement reasons, following pressure from Abbott.
- Sanctuary city backs off after GOP governor put it in ‘crisis’ mode with $110 million threat
Houston City Council reversed a sanctuary-style policy limiting cooperation with ICE after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to withhold $110 million in state funding. The policy change allows police to extend detentions for ICE-related purposes if justified by law enforcement reasons, following pressure from Abbott over public safety concerns.
- WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on 'sanctuary' policies
Houston faces a $110 million financial penalty from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott if it does not repeal a sanctuary-style policy limiting cooperation with ICE. Abbott claims the city is in 'breach of contract' under a public safety agreement and warns of withholding sales tax revenue if the city refuses to repay the state.
- WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on 'sanctuary' policies
Houston faces a $110 million financial penalty from Texas Governor Greg Abbott for repealing a policy limiting cooperation with ICE. Abbott claims the city is breaching a public safety agreement and threatens to withhold sales tax revenue until the funds are repaid. The dispute centers on Houston's shift from a 'sanctuary' policy to one requiring police to wait 30 minutes for ICE.
- Texas AG sues Houston mayor and city council over new sanctuary city ordinance limiting ICE cooperation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Houston Mayor John Whitmire, city council members, and police chief over a sanctuary city ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE. The ordinance, passed 12-5, ended a policy requiring Houston police to wait 30 minutes for ICE to arrive for immigration arrests. Paxton claims it violates Senate Bill 4, a state law prohibiting local policies that hinder federal immigration enforcement.
- Texas AG sues Houston mayor and city council over new sanctuary city ordinance limiting ICE cooperation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Houston mayor and city council over a sanctuary city ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE, arguing it violates Senate Bill 4. The lawsuit names 16 council members, Mayor John Whitmire, and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz. Governor Greg Abbott also threatened to freeze public safety funding if the ordinance remains in place.