Texas Government Relations
Your advocate in Austin, session after session.
Strategic advice, political counsel, and public policy solutions for businesses, associations, and non-profits before the Texas Legislature and state agencies.
Our Team
The people on your account
Founder & OwnerEric Wright
More than 35 years in Texas government and representing major corporations and associations.
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AssociateSloan Byerly
Nearly a decade in the Texas House. A Capitol Inside top 10 "Rising Star."
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Legislative DirectorCourtney Williamson
Twenty years in state government, including seven leading governmental relations at TWC.
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Office ManagerKaty Cramer
A veteran of multiple sessions who runs the office and is a point of contact for clients.
Read bioEric Wright
Eric served as Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff, coordinating the office's work with the Texas Senate, the Texas House, the Governor's office, and nearly 250 executive branch agencies. He managed a staff of 45 across appropriations, education, natural resources, economic development, transportation, and taxes.
From 1996 to 2000 he was Committee Director of the Senate Finance Committee, where the Legislature adopted the $87 billion 1998–99 budget and the $98 billion 2000–01 budget.
In private practice he has represented some of the country's largest companies, including Motorola, IBM, SAS, Sempra Energy, Texas Instruments, and the Huntsman Corporation.
EducationB.A. in Economics, The University of Texas at Austin
Sloan Byerly
Sloan joined Eric Wright & Associates in 2022 after nearly a decade in the Texas House of Representatives. He served four years as Chief of Staff to Representative Travis Clardy, through two regular and three special sessions, managing Capitol and district staff, the legislative agenda, and office communications.
Before that he was Legislative Director to Representative Lynn Stucky, DVM, and led his first re-election campaign. He began his career on the House Committee on Natural Resources under Chairman Jim Keffer.
Named a top 10 "Rising Star" in Capitol Inside's Texas Lobby Power Rankings, Sloan is known for relationships on both sides of the aisle. His practice covers economic development, natural resources, public safety, higher education, and health and human services.
EducationB.A. in History, The University of Texas at Austin
Courtney Williamson
Courtney joined Eric Wright & Associates after twenty years in state government. She works with the Legislature, state leadership, and agencies on policy initiatives and legislative priorities for clients.
For seven years she was Director of Governmental Relations at the Texas Workforce Commission, working with members from both parties on agency initiatives, appropriations, and legislation. She has also worked for several state agencies and for members of the Texas House and Senate.
Her policy experience spans health and human services, behavioral health, workforce, and military affairs.
EducationM.P.A., The University of Texas at San Antonio; B.A., St. Edward's University
Katy Cramer
Katy keeps the firm running. A veteran of multiple legislative sessions, she coordinates the work of the team, manages scheduling and the office, and serves as an additional point of contact for clients.
Clients rely on her for quick answers, careful follow-through, and the kind of service that makes a busy session run smoothly.
Services
What we do
The senior people on your account are your points of contact, from the interim through sine die.
Direct Lobbying
Policy development, bill drafting and analysis, monitoring and reporting, and advocacy with members and leadership offices.
Procurement
Opportunities at state agencies, introductions to key decision-makers, and appropriations directed by legislative intent.
Political Affairs
Strategy for the Texas political landscape, PAC management and giving, and election analysis.
Regulatory Consulting
Administrative rules and procedures, agency decision-making, and implementation after the session.
Communications
Issue explainers, one-pagers, talking points, and committee testimony.
Clients
Who we represent
Current clients by sector.
- Americans for Patient Access
- Aveanna CAP
- Behavioral Health Advocates of Texas
- Girling Personal Care
- Physicians for Free Market Health Care
- Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice CAP
- Texas ASC Society CAP
- Tenderheart Health Outcomes
- Abnormal Security
- Axon
- BusPatrol
- Equifax
- Tanium
- TikTok
- VGW
- AMRIZE CAP
- AQUA CAP
- GEUS
- Intersect Power
- Ørsted
- Rain CAP
- CohnReznick
- Coalition for Responsible Beneficiary Lending
- Gordian
- Independent Payroll Providers Association
- DPS Officers Association
- Lone Star State School Counselor Association
- ScholarShot
- Texas Appleseed
- Stellantis CAP
- STORY Cannabis
- Jeri's Oysters
- Petty Group
CAP Represented through Congress Avenue Partners, where Eric is a partner.
“Eric's expertise in navigating the legislative process and the political environment combined with his long-standing relationships at the Texas Capitol have produced winning results for our members and their families.”
“He has introduced us to key decision makers and helped us to win multi-million dollar contracts across multiple agencies.”
Selected Results
Case studies
Open any one for the challenge, strategy, and result.
Appropriations & Education
A legislative campaign that created a statewide reading initiative and secured funding to implement it.
- Challenge
- A leading provider of K–3 reading intervention programs asked us to build a legislative initiative so that Texas children read successfully by the end of third grade, with state funds applied to carry it out.
- Strategy
- Working with the Governor's Office, Senators, Representatives, and the Texas Education Agency, we developed the Texas Leads Initiative. It focused state resources on schools with reading scores below the state average, phasing in a comprehensive K–3 reading program over three years.
- Result
- In April 2004, TEA selected our client as the sole provider of the intensive reading intervention program, a $12 million initiative carried out with TEA and local school districts.
Water
Legislation protecting future water resources for Dallas and Northeast Texas.
- Challenge
- Community and business leaders in Northeast Texas asked us to form a coalition to represent the region's water interests. Working with Metroplex stakeholders, the goal was a new reservoir adding 78 million gallons a day for municipal, industrial, and recreational use.
- Strategy
- We helped organize local volunteers and county officials into a non-profit coalition, educated residents and state leaders on the region's water needs, and lobbied legislators to include the reservoir in the State Water Plan.
- Result
- The Northeast Texas reservoir became one of nineteen unique reservoir sites designated in Texas, and the regional water authority continues to pursue development along the Sulphur River Basin.
Medical Transportation
A new model for delivering non-emergency medical transportation in Texas.
- Challenge
- A national leader in non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) wanted to bring a better delivery model to Texas Medicaid, where fee-for-service costs had risen sharply since 2000.
- Strategy
- Working with the Health and Human Services Commission and legislative leaders, we analyzed past cost drivers and projected savings from a capitated brokerage model built on utilization management, provider discipline, and fraud reduction.
- Result
- Legislation in 2007 and budget direction in 2009 moved Texas to a brokerage model, starting in two major metropolitan areas with a statewide rollout to follow.
Recreational Industry Association
Legislation and better agency relations that lowered rates and positioned the client for the future.
- Challenge
- Facing budget shortfalls, state agencies were directed to raise fines and fees to cover their regulatory programs, and our association client faced steep increases.
- Strategy
- We drafted and passed a bill cutting the fines in half and broadening stakeholder input. Members were kept informed, testified, and met with legislators, while we built relationships at the agency to negotiate a fair fee structure.
- Result
- The bill passed with every component intact. The industry pays half the proposed penalties, negotiated lower licensing fees, and now has a seat at the table on future regulatory changes.
Statewide Association
A targeted public affairs campaign that raised the organization's visibility and effectiveness at the Capitol.
- Challenge
- A little-known statewide organization wanted greater visibility with officeholders and a stronger presence with key agencies, along with members who knew how to take part in the process.
- Strategy
- We built a legislative awareness program: materials with district-specific inserts for each legislator, personal visits reinforced by constituent calls and letters, member training on key messages, and regular legislative updates.
- Result
- The association gained exposure and aligned itself on the issues that matter to it. Its members now seek out opportunities with elected officials, and the organization is positioned to take on legislative work.
Reports
Gavel to Gavel
Our weekly report from the Capitol during the legislative session.
- 89th Session: End of Session ReportMay 31, 2025
- 89th Session: Week of May 24May 24, 2025
- 89th Session: Week of May 16May 16, 2025
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