Witness List: Economic Development, April 14, 2025

Summary

A witness list for an Economic Development hearing on April 14, 2025, at 9:00 AM, covering bills including SB 1071, SB 1444, SB 1483, SB 1756, SB 2779 and SB 2979. For each bill it lists witnesses testifying for, against or on the measure and those registering but not testifying, with their organizations. Regular entries include the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, the Texas Travel Alliance and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, with city officials from Pflugerville, South Padre Island, Galveston and Fort Worth on specific bills. Witnesses on SB 2979 include representatives of the Institute to Advance Child Care, Child Care Associates and The Texas Workforce Commission.

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“Witness List: Economic Development, April 14, 2025.” Original at capitol.texas.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/witness-list-display-129bdf43d6/, SHA-256 f0d808410e1e77d82f6c73f94b47f3f8353e7c2c1577d38d41fe80b853ac82a4.

Full text

WITNESS
LIST

Economic
Development

April
14, 2025 9:00 AM

SB 1071

FOR:

Gonzales,
Victor Mayor (City of Pflugerville), Pflugerville, TX

Hunter,
Thomas Assistant City Manager (City of Pflugerville), Pflugerville, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Deline,
Steven (Self), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 1444

FOR:

Packer,
Jonathan President/CEO (Self; New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce), New

Braunfels,
TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

Pence,
Tanya President (Self; New braunfels CVB), New Braunfels, TX

Werner,
Jared Assistant City Manager (City of New Braunfels), New braunfels, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 1483

FOR:

McNulty,
Patrick Mayor (City of South Padre Island), South PadreIsland, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

Ricco,
Joe Councilman (City of south padre island), South padre island, TX

Schwartz,
Kerry City Council South Padre Island (City of South Padre Island), South
Padre

Island,
TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 1556

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

WITNESS
LIST

Economic
Development

April
14, 2025 9:00 AM

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 1703

FOR:

Szymczyk,
Christopher Economic Development Manager (City of Carrollton, Texas),

Carrollton,
TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 1756

FOR:

Glywasky,
Donald City Attorney (also providing written testimony) (City of galveston),

Galveston,
TX

AGAINST:

Spataro,
Susan (Self), Austin, TX

ON:

McEachern
(pronounced McAckren), Jesica (City of Fort Worth), Fort Worth, TX

McElroy,
Denis Asst City Atty (City of Fort Worth), Fort Worth, TX

Sparks,
Clifford Legislative Director (City of Dallas), Dallas, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Danesi,
Kimberly CEO Galveston Park Board (Galveston Park Board of Trustees),

Galveston,
TX

AGAINST:

Coker,
Andrea (North Texas Commission), Irving, TX

Jones,
Neal Buddy (Majestic realty), Austin texas, TX

McCartt,
J. (Majestic Realty), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Providing
written testimony:

AGAINST:

Ramirez,
Rick Deputy Intergovernmental Relations Officer (City of Austin), Austin, TX

WITNESS
LIST

Economic
Development

April
14, 2025 9:00 AM

SB 1854

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Deline,
Steven (Self), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

SB 2036

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

Romo,
Joel (Self; President, Washington on the Brazos Historical Foundation),
Brenham,

TX

ON:

Bell,
Joseph Executive Director (Texas Historical Commission), Austin, TX

Worman,
Kristen General Counsel (Texas Historical Commission), Austin, TX

SB 2133

FOR:

Flores,
Yajaira Director of convention center facilities (also providing written
testimony)

(Self;
City of McAllen), McAllen, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

ON:

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 2297

FOR:

Parker,
Bernie Director Economic Development Corporation (also providing written

testimony)
(City of Anna Economic Development Organization), Anna,Texas, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

AGAINST:

Deline,
Steven (Self), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

WITNESS
LIST

Economic
Development

April
14, 2025 9:00 AM

SB 2622

FOR:

Fletcher,
Chris Mayor (City of Burleson, Texas), Burleson, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

ON:

Abi
Habib, Lara (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Reed,
Elliott (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

SB 2779

FOR:

Boyd,
Erika President & CEO (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

Brown,
Craig Mayor City ofGalveston (also providing written testimony) (City of

Galveston),
Galveston, TX

Danesi,
Kimberly CEO (Galveston Park Board of Trustees), Galveston, TX

Frazier,
Bryson (Galveston Park Board of Trustees), Galveston, TX

Porretto,
Alexander (City of Galveston), Galveston, TX

Schwartz,
John (also providing written testimony) (Self), Pflugerville, TX

ON:

Harrell,
Mike (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Austin, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

AGAINST:

Ludanyi,
Csilla CFO (City of Galveston), Galveston, TX

SB 2955

FOR:

Arfsten,
Bruce Mayor, Addison (Self; Town of Addison), Addison, TX

Emerson,
Wayne Director of Economic Development (Town of Addison), Frisco, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Bragiel,
Justin General Counsel (Texas Hotel & Lodging Association), Austin, TX

Hinkle,
Ron (Texas Travel Alliance), Austin, TX

SB 2979

FOR:

Blount,
Shawneequa Managing Director (also providing written testimony) (Institute to

Advance
Child Care), Fort Worth, TX

Calahan,
Becky (also providing written testimony) (Philanthropy Advocates), Waco, TX

Coker,
Andrea (Self; North texas commission), Irving, TX

Montgomery,
Rebecca (Center for Transforming Lives), Fort Worth, TX

WITNESS
LIST

Economic
Development

April
14, 2025 9:00 AM

Waddell,
Kara President and CEO (also providing written testimony) (Self; Child Care

Associates),
Fort Worth, TX

Registering,
but not testifying:

FOR:

Castro
Garcia, Josie (Dallas County), Dallas, TX

Emory,
Cathryn (Self), Austin, TX

Franco,
Santiago (Harris County Commissioners Court), Houston, TX

Gessner,
Madison Executive Director, Texas Restaurant Association (Texas Restaurant

Association),
Austin, TX

Haynes,
Adam Policy Director (Conference of Urban Counties), Austin, TX

Henning,
Lori Executive Director (Texas Associations of Goodwills), Austin, TX

Jones,
Roxanne (United Ways of Texas), Austin, TX

Kieschnick,
Kelle VP of Policy (Texas Business Leadership Council), Austin, TX

Montgomery,
Rebecca (Greater Arlington Chamber), Fort Worth, TX

Montgomery,
Rebecca (Mansfield Chamber), Fort Worth, TX

Montgomery,
Rebecca (Hurst Euless Bedford Chamber), Fort Worth, TX

Sabo,
Jason (Children at Risk), Austin, TX

Taliaferro,
Aaron Director government relations (Tarrant County Administrator's Office),

Fort
worth, TX

Tamayo,
Elisa M. Governmental Affairs Manager (El Paso County), El Paso, TX

ON:

Miller,
Reagan Director of Childcare (The Texas Workforce Commission), Austin, TX

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Original: capitol.texas.gov