TAB’s 2025 Policy Conference to Set Pro-Business Agenda as 89th Legislature Begins

With Texas’ 89th Legislative Session kicking off this week, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) is hitting the ground running and advancing our policy agenda to maintain Texas’ position as a global economic powerhouse. On Thursday, January 16th, TAB will host its 2025 Policy Conference, featuring Texas business leaders and public officials who will be at the forefront of crafting policies to make the Texas economic engine even stronger.

We are thrilled that this week’s Conference will feature one-on-one fireside chats with Texas-based leaders surrounding policies that will have a national impact.

I am excited to speak with Joe Lonsdale, managing partner at 8VC, an early-stage venture capital firm that manages over $6 billion in capital. Joe is a prolific Texas technology entrepreneur and investor who has co-founded several major companies including Palantir, Addepar and OpenGov, and was the founding chairman of the University of Austin (UATX), a new university dedicated to restoring the pursuit of truth in higher education. I look forward to speaking with Joe about Texas’ unique position to support innovators and entrepreneurs who are working to promote ground-breaking solutions to the most complex challenges of the 21st Century economy.

I am also looking forward to my conversation with Nicole Nosek, Chair of the Board of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, which works to remove barriers for Texans seeking to achieve the American Dream of homeownership. Nicole’s insights will be particularly important as our state’s fast-growing population puts increased demand for housing opportunities as businesses and their employees continue to flock to Texas for the unbridled opportunity our state offers.

We will also hear an important keynote address from Texas’ Chief Economic Development officer, Adriana Cruz, who serves as the Executive Director for Governor Abbott’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism. Adriana runs what has become – by far – the most sophisticated economic development operation of any state in the country, and will speak to our state’s economic outlook and the work of her office in attracting and recruiting world-class business entities to relocate, expand, grow, and create jobs for hard-working Texans.

To outline TAB’s policy priorities for the 89th Legislature, I will be joined by TAB Executive VP and Chief of Staff Megan Mauro, who leads our Tech Means Business Coalition and has spearheaded the Coalition’s outstanding work to ensure Texas remains the national epicenter of technology innovation and growth.

We will also hear from lawmakers and business leaders on the importance of keeping Texas a leader in innovation – including on policy related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) – featuring 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.

Additionally, we will hear from an all-star panel of legislators about how Texas can expand access to health care and lower costs, featuring comments from State Senator Kelly Hancock (SD-9) and State Representatives Dennis Paul (HD-129), Claudia Ordaz (HD-79), and Caroline Harris Davila (HD-52), along with David Dross, the National Practice Leader for Mercer’s Managed Pharmacy Consulting practice.

From there, we will hear from experts on economic development in Texas – including how to enhance our state’s leadership in semiconductor production and workforce development – featuring 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.

Finally, we will also be hosting a panel on the state of energy in Texas and solutions for powering our current and future business growth, featuring Senators Charles Perry (SD-28) and Nathan Johnson (SD-16), along with Katharine McAden, Google’s Head of Public Policy and External Affairs for the Southern U.S.

There is still time to register! Click here for more information on how to attend and get an inside look at the policies that will be shaping our pro-business agenda in the 89th Texas Legislature.

-              Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business

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