Texas Chamber Business News

With the 89th Legislative Session kicking off this week, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) opens its 2025 Policy Conference, featuring one-on-one fireside chats with Texas business leaders and public officials who will be at the forefront of crafting policies to make the Texas economic engine even stronger.

• Joe Lonsdale is managing partner at 8VC, an early-stage venture capital firm that manages over $6 billion in capital. He has co-founded several major companies including Palantir, Addepar, and OpenGov, and was the founding chairman of the University of Austin (UATX). He’ll speak about Texas’ unique position to support innovators and entrepreneurs who are working to promote ground-breaking solutions to complex challenges.

• Nicole Nosek is Chair of the Board of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, which works to remove barriers for Texans seeking to achieve the American Dream of homeownership. She’ll speak to how our state’s fast-growing population increases demand for housing opportunities as businesses expand and relocate to Texas.

• Adriana Cruz is the state’s Chief Economic Development officer and Executive Director of Governor Abbott’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism. She will speak to our state’s economic outlook and the work of her office in attracting businesses to relocate, expand, grow, and create jobs for Texans.

• Megan Mauro, TAB’s Executive VP and Chief of Staff and leader of the Tech Means Business Coalition will discuss policy priorities focused on maintaining the national epicenter of technology innovation and growth.

A discussion of ways to keep Texas a leader in innovation – including on policy related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) – will feature State Representatives Giovanni Capriglione (HD-98) and Oscar Longoria (HD-35) alongside Texas Space Commission Executive Director Norman Garza, Jr., Amazon’s Caroline Joiner, Thoughtful AI co-founder and CEO Alex Zekoff, and Ari Lehavi from Moody’s Analytics.

State Senator Kelly Hancock (SD-9) and State Representatives Dennis Paul (HD-129), Claudia Ordaz (HD-79), and Caroline Harris Davila (HD-52) will discuss how Texas can expand access to health care and lower costs. They’ll be joined by David Dross, who leads Mercer’s Managed Pharmacy Consulting practice nationally.

State Representative Richard Raymond (HD-42) along with TAB’s Gabriela Perdichizzi, VP of Government and External Relations; Texas Economic Development Corporation President & CEO and former Texas Workforce Commissioner Aaron Demerson; Texas CHIPS Office Executive Director Ariane Marion; and Ray Martinez III, President & CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges will discuss how to enhance our state’s leadership in semiconductor production and workforce development.

Senators Charles Perry (SD-28) and Nathan Johnson (SD-16) will join a panel on the state of energy in Texas and solutions for powering our current and future business growth. They’ll be joined by Katharine McAden, Google’s Head of Public Policy and External Affairs for the Southern U.S.

Registration for the conference remains open. Click here for more information and to register.

Glenn Hamer

President and CEO - Texas Association of Business

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

🎙️We Have a Podcast! 🎙️

Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

🤝 Texas Association of Business 📈

Texas Association of Business (TAB) is the Texas State Chamber, representing companies of every size and industry. TAB’s purpose is to champion the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations.

You can follow TAB on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

All Texas News, Quick 5-Minute Reads, Always Free!

Join over 200,000 Texans who start their day with The Texas Flyover. A quick 5-minute read. Crafted by Texans, for Texans, we capture the unique spirit of the Lone Star State. Always free! Don't miss the fastest-growing daily newsletter in Texas.

Subscribe with one Click HERE!