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Anette, along with co-host David Anderson, discusses the process of how a bill becomes law, or doesn't, with former legislative insiders Kyle Mauro, Nelda Hunter, and Kelly Barnes. All these knowledgeable folks are now at Hillco Partners, and help explain the complicated process our legislators must follow to create our laws. Find their bios below.

David D. Anderson

David Anderson joined HillCo Partners in 2003 and represents the interests of the firm’s clients at the Texas Legislature and with various state agencies.

David is widely recognized throughout Texas for his expertise in public education policies and issues.  Formerly the Managing Director for Curriculum at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Anderson has expertise on a wide range of education policy issues.  Prior to his work at TEA, David spent eighteen years in the educational publishing industry, including sixteen as a regional vice president for three publishers. He was a teacher and school administrator in Austin ISD and worked in an administrative role in both Killeen ISD and ESC 13 early in his career.

Since joining HillCo Partners, Anderson has worked with numerous clients in the educational arena, including the Texas School Alliance, the Texas Fast Growth School Coalition, and several Texas independent school districts.  His client schools enroll more than three-fourths of the students in Texas and he has developed relationships with school leaders in a variety of positions and in every corner of state. David also works with Raise Your Hand Texas, THSCA, and TASBO. He has advised non-profit and private sector clients about the pursuit of state, regional, and local contracts and helped develop agreements between private sector entities.

As an advisor to school leaders on a myriad of topics, David has developed keen insights into economic and program needs in Texas public schools. Superintendents, senior level district administrators, and school board members rely on his advice and recommendations as important financial and program decisions are made in school districts across the state. His in-depth experience in a variety of roles makes him a valued consultant for school leaders in Texas.

Over the course of his career, Anderson has earned the respect and goodwill of key decision-makers in Texas public education, as well as among the members of both Houses of the Legislature and the State Board of Education.  

Kelly Barnes

Kelly Barnes, who joined HillCo Partners in 2019, focuses on assisting the firm’s clients in various important areas of public policy.

Barnes worked for six years in the Texas House of Representatives, prior to joining HillCo. He served as chief of staff for a State Representative, where he helped guide many pieces of legislation all the way to the Governor’s desk. The office Barnes worked in possessed the highest bill passage rate of any other House office during the 84th legislative session.

Prior to working in the Texas House, Barnes was a government affairs consultant for the Texas Association of Business (TAB). While at TAB he assisted hundreds of companies and local chambers of commerce to improve the state’s economy, workforce, and quality of life.

Barnes also worked in Washington, DC as a legislative aide for a U.S. Congressman from Texas.

Raised in Austin, Barnes received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish at Texas Christian University (TCU), and a Master’s degree from George Washington University. He lives in Austin with his wife.

Nelda Hunter

Nelda Hunter is a consultant at HillCo Partners and works primarily in the areas of state budget and fiscal policy, as well as health and human services.

Hunter has over fifteen years of experience working within Texas government, and her various roles provide her with a wealth of perspectives on legislative process, budget and policy development, and state agency operations.  She served as Director for the House Committee on Appropriations while simultaneously serving as Chief of Staff for Chairman John Zerwas, M.D.  While overseeing the development of two state budgets, Hunter also led the advancement and passage of several statewide policies, including a constitutional amendment to extend and fund the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, and a bill that repealed the widely unpopular Driver Responsibility Program and that reconfigures and preserves trauma funding for the state’s hospitals.  She recently volunteered her time and expertise to the Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas, which is focused on responding to the novel coronavirus.  Hunter was honored for her legislative work by several groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN), the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, the Coalition of Texans With Disabilities, and the Texas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.

Hunter received her Master of Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University in 2004.  She was named a Distinguished Alumna of the Bush School in May 2014.

Kyle Mauro

Kyle Mauro joined HillCo Partners in 2020 and focuses primarily on HillCo’s health care practice.

Kyle’s most recent experience is his time working in the Texas Legislature guiding legislative strategy and policy development as the Chief of Staff and Committee Director to a senior member of the Texas House of Representatives who chaired the House Committee on Human Services.

During his time in the Capitol, Kyle worked to craft legislation related to Medicaid managed care, Medicaid’s prescription drug benefit, oversight of the state’s health and human services agency and more. While primarily focusing on health care, he worked within a broad array of policy areas and helped to pass legislation related to taxation, gaming, transportation, telecommunications, and the electric industry.

Kyle leverages his experience and relationships in the health policy arena providing insight to those inside the capitol and superlative advocacy on behalf of his clients.

Kyle is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He lives in Austin with his wife Megan and their Great Dane, Barnaby.