Bills and Business by USLege

Welcome to Episode #22 of Bills & Business! In this episode, host Laura Carr sits down with Ivan Jaime , Director of Government and Public Affairs at Walmart, to explore his journey in corporate government relations and community engagement. With a career spanning public affairs at Union Pacific Railroad and Walmart, Ivan shares insights into legislative advocacy, crisis management, and corpor...

Welcome to Episode #21 of Bills & Business! In this episode, Laura Carr sits down with Vinay Hiremath, co-founder of Loom, the video messaging tool that grew to 14 million users and sold for nearly a billion dollars. But what happens after that level of success? Vinay shares his journey beyond the startup world—turning down a $60 million retention offer, exploring robotics and government work,...

Welcome to Episode #20 of Bills & Business. In this episode, host Laura Carr sits down with Glenn Hamer, CEO of the Texas Association of Business, to explore the vital role Texas plays in driving international trade across North America. Glenn shares insights into the Texas Leads Trade Coalition, a growing alliance of over 35 stakeholders working to support trilateral trade between the U.S., M...

Welcome to Episode #19 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr sits down with Representative Tom Oliverson, Chairman of the House Republican Caucus and a practicing anesthesiologist, to discuss the intersection of healthcare, insurance, and AI in Texas policy. Rep. Oliverson shares his journey from medicine to politics, his legislative priorities, and his insights on health care refor...

Welcome to Episode #18 of Bills & Business: TXLege News ! In this episode, host Laura Carr is joined by Jamie Dudensing , CEO of the Texas Association of Health Plans, and Blake Hutson , Director of Public Affairs, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in Texas health care policy. Jamie and Blake share insights on Medicaid mental health coverage, employer-sponsored insurance, and the ind...

Welcome to Episode #17 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, we’re joined by Andy Cates, owner of Cates Legal Group PLLC, outside General Counsel for USLege, and a pioneer in legislative and campaign law. Andy shares insights from his extensive career, including his authorship of Texas Ethics Laws Annotated and his leadership in creating Texas’ first legal specialization in campai...

Welcome to Episode #16 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this engaging installment, host Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Texas lobbyist Lucas Meyers, Managing Principal of Governmental Affairs LLC. Lucas brings decades of experience from the Texas Senate and House, navigating complex policy areas from telecommunications to taxes and oil and gas, while even sharing a light-h...

Welcome to Episode #15 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, Laura Carr sits down with Representative Josey Garcia, the first woman active-duty veteran to serve in the Texas House. Representing House District 124 in West San Antonio, Rep. Garcia’s journey from foster care to military service and now public office highlights resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to communit...

Welcome to Episode #14 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, Laura Carr sits down with The Honorable Larry Gonzales, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming Texas’s infrastructure and economy. Larry shares his expertise on the challenges AI presents, from increased energy demands to the need for water infrastructu...

Welcome to Episode #13 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, we’re joined by AJ Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Texas 2036, a think tank focused on shaping Texas' long-term prosperity. AJ discusses Texas 2036’s mission to build a strong foundation for the state as it approaches its bicentennial in 2036, emphasizing non-partisan policies across education, infrastructure,...

Welcome to Episode #12 of Bills & Business: Texas Legislative News! In this episode, host Laura Carr sits down with Nora Cox, CEO of the Texas e-Health Alliance and a leading advocate for healthcare modernization through technology. With a rich background in tech and policy, Nora brings a unique perspective to the intersection of healthcare innovation and legislative action. Nora shares her in...

Welcome to Episode #11 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, we’re joined by Mia McCord, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Texas Chemistry Council. With nearly two decades of experience in Texas public policy, political campaigns, and government relations, Mia shares her journey from serving in the Texas Legislature to leading legislative efforts for the chemical industr...

Welcome to Episode #10 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! This episode features Mary Tipps, Executive Director of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), who has been at the forefront of legal reform and advocacy in Texas for over two decades. Join host Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, as she delves into Mary’s journey with TLR, the organization’s transformative impact on Texas’ legal system, and the...

Welcome to Episode #9 of Bills & Business: Texas Legislative News! In this episode, host Laura Carr is joined by Ben Bhatti, J.D., the President, CEO, and Founder of the Texas AI Association. Ben’s impressive career spans education, public service, and technology leadership, making him a key advocate for advancing AI innovation and policy in Texas. Together, they discuss how Texas’s unique cul...

Welcome to Episode #8 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business (TAB), to explore how pro-business policies and trade relationships are shaping the future of Texas’ economy. Glenn shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities Texas businesses face under the ne...

In Episode #7 of Bills & Business: TXLege News, we delve into the world of legislative advocacy with two influential Texas Chiefs of Staff, Laura Stowe and Cristina Masters. This episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process through the perspectives of these seasoned professionals. Laura Stowe, Chief of Staff to Senator Angela Paxton of Senate District 8, shares her...

Welcome to Episode #6 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, Laura Carr sits down with Ryan Brannan, founder and principal of The Brannan Firm and a top-ranking Texas lobbyist. With extensive experience under Governors Greg Abbott and Rick Perry, Ryan provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities this legislative session presents. Ryan discusses Texas’ significant...

Welcome to Episode #5 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! Join us as we explore how real-time information is revolutionizing advocacy with Jay Propes, Partner at Mercury Public Affairs. With over 30 years of experience in government relations and public affairs, Jay shares his unique insights into the evolving demands of advocacy work and how technology, especially AI, is transforming the landsc...

Welcome to Episode #4 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, we explore second-chance hiring with Megan Mauro, Executive Vice President of the Texas Association of Business. Megan discusses the Texas Second Chance Employers Coalition, an initiative launched by the TAB Foundation to support hiring practices that empower individuals with criminal records to rejoin the workforce. Join...

Welcome to Episode #3 of Bills & Business: TXLege News! In this episode, we’re joined by Claudia Ordaz, Texas State Representative and advocate for infrastructure development and community-focused policies in Texas. Claudia dives into the critical issues facing Texas communities, from expanding infrastructure to supporting economic empowerment for families and local businesses. Ordaz shares he...

In this episode of Bills & Business: Texas Legislative News, host Laura Carr sits down with Texas political expert Jeff Blaylock, Founder of TXElects Legacy and Senior News Editor at TXLege, to dive into the key issues shaping Texas elections. Jeff shares insights on the historical statewide winning streak of Texas Republicans, key challenges faced by Texas Democrats, and upcoming races that c...

Welcome to the very first episode of Bills & Business: TXLege News! We’re kicking off with a special guest, Glenn Hamer, President & CEO of the Texas Association of Business (TAB), as part of our Hammer Time series. In this inaugural episode, Glenn shares his insights on the evolving relationship between Texas and Mexico, following the historic inauguration of Mexico’s first female preside...