Austin City Council adopted Ordinance 20260423-029 creating City Code Chapter 2-19 on surveillance technology
Austin City Council approved Ordinance No. 20260423-029 on April 23rd, 2026. It adds a new Chapter 2-19 to Title 2 of the city code, covering how any city department adopts, acquires, deploys, uses and reviews surveillance technology. The ordinance followed Resolution No. 20260205-061 of February 5th, 2026, which directed the City Manager to return to Council with a rule on the city's own use of that technology. The council file records no fiscal impact. Reporting has described the ordinance as banning facial recognition and restricting AI and machine learning tools. That language has not been confirmed against the ordinance text.
How to take part
Austin posts the full agenda and every backup document for each council meeting at austintexas.gov/council. That includes the two draft ordinances, the redline and the individual council members' motion sheets. Council meetings are public. Under the new chapter a department's proposed surveillance technology comes back to council as its own agenda item.
Where
1 county. In Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos.
Dates
| Date | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | ordered | Resolution No. 20260205-061 directed the City Manager to return with a surveillance technology ordinance |
| 2026-04-23 | ordered | Ordinance No. 20260423-029 adopted, adding City Code Chapter 2-19 |
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
Approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 2 (Administration) to add a new Chapter 2-19 (Surveillance Technology) relating to the adoption, acquisition, deployment, use, and review of surveillance technology by any City department.April 23, 2026 Austin City Council Regular Meeting, AustinTexas.gov Primary source, official
Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.April 23, 2026 Austin City Council Regular Meeting, AustinTexas.gov Primary source, official
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to return to Council with an ordinance regulating the City's use of surveillance technology.February 5, 2026 Austin City Council Regular Meeting, AustinTexas.gov Primary source, official