Statehouse Consultants

Government & Public Affairs Consulting

Advising clients concerning aspects of their business in Texas.

 

Colin Parrish

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Partner, Statehouse Consultants

Colin is a founding partner at Statehouse Consultants, where he leads policy initiatives for a diverse range of clients, guiding complex projects from initial concept through completion. His work spans developing draft legislation, creating advocacy and business development strategies, and building tailored communication materials. With deep expertise in public policy, particularly within transportation, infrastructure, procurement, public finance, tax and fiscal policy, Colin is known for his strategic, results-oriented approach.

Colin’s career began over two decades ago after he transitioned from a research lab into the world of Texas government. Rapidly rising in influence, he became Chief of Staff to a key Committee Chairman, managing multiple offices, the committee process, budgets, and legislation, including reforms in toll road contracting and procurement. He later served as an Aide and Policy Advisor to the Texas Transportation Commission, where he provided strategic advice during a critical restructuring phase. During this time, he traveled to all 25 TxDOT districts to understand their unique needs. Colin went on to serve as the Texas Governor’s Advisor for Budget, Planning, and Policy, focusing on infrastructure, budget, and economic development. He acted as the primary liaison between the Governor’s office and TxDOT, reviewing agency policies and representing Texas as a delegate to the Border Governor’s Conference.

Throughout his public service, Colin played pivotal roles in major policy initiatives. The final bill he worked on prior to leaving government service was the passage of Prop 1, a constitutional amendment that redirected a portion of the oil and gas severance tax to the state highway fund, this annual transfer started in 2015, was $3.6 billion in 2023 and represents a projected $3.0 billion in 2024. This initiative started the state’s shift away from an overreliance on federal funding that plagues many other states.

Since founding the firm that evolved into Statehouse Consultants in 2014, Colin has consistently delivered successful outcomes. In the 88th Legislative Session, he worked to modernize Texas’s alcohol regulatory system authorizing private wine sales to restaurants and clarified statutory language to allow both Dallas and Houston to host World Cup games in 2026. He has also championed legislation across various sessions, related to tolling services, enhancing industrial project financing, and preserving critical infrastructure funding mechanisms.

Beyond his consulting work, Colin is active in the community volunteering and serving on multiple boards, including Capitol Credit Union, and the Capital Area Council of Scouting America, where he is Vice President of Membership. He is also a founding board member of both the Coalition for Responsible Infrastructure Finance and the Texas Gulf Coast Infrastructure Coalition. Colin’s extensive service, strategic vision, and policy expertise make him a prominent figure in Texas’s public policy and infrastructure landscape.

Amanda Schar

Partner, Statehouse Consultants

Amanda served as a longtime staff member and Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives, managing the legislative and committee process for regulatory, infrastructure, environmental, and licensing-related legislation. Her work included the supervision of significant legislation including the Sunset bill for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Amanda is now a founding partner at Statehouse Consultants and focuses her unique skillset on representing a variety of interests, leveraging a strong network of bipartisan elected officials, legislative, and executive branch staff. She is passionate about communication and marketing and enjoys creating meaningful and impactful communication materials for her clients.

Previous Experience

During her time working for the Texas House of Representatives, Amanda managed the legislative and committee process for significant regulatory, infrastructure, environmental, alcohol and licensing related legislation. In particular, she supervised the passage of 53 significant authored and sponsored bills, including among others the Sunset bill for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, greenhouse gas emissions legislation, port operation legislation and illegal game room reforms. She also developed and implemented the Chairman’s legislative agenda, managed all public policy matters affecting the member's constituency and interests and acted as a liaison for the Chairman to agencies, stakeholders, constituents and legislative staff.

  • Former Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee, managing the committee process, budgets and legislation. Including significant alcohol licensing and regulatory reforms, and moderated the occasionally heated issues surrounding Tesla vs. Auto Dealers and Large Retailers vs. Small Package Stores.

  • Former Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, managing the committee process, budgets and legislation including the Sunset bill for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and greenhouse gas emissions legislation.

  • Former Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives, managing the legislative and committee process.

  • Former Legislative Aide in the Texas House of Representatives, analyzing and advising on legislation in committees and legislation to be debated in front of the full House of Representatives.

Statehouse Consultant’s Successful Outcomes

  • Successfully authorizing the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority in the 88th Legislative Session to act as one of two endorsing entities for the Men’s 2026 World Cup for the Major Events Reimbursement Fund.

  • Successfully authorizing the Gulf Coast Authority in the 87th Legislative Session, to utilize the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program and finance projects inside or outside the State of Texas.

  • Successfully defeating a House and Senate measure during the 86th Legislative Session, that would have taken a high property tax value portion of Lee College’s service area out of their district and granted it to a non-contiguous college’s service area.

  • Lobbied for inclusion of a line item in the 2019-2020 supplemental budget for a $10.9 million grant for Santa Fe ISD, to repair and replace facilities impacted by a shooting on one of their campuses in May of 2018.

  • Successfully creating a carve out in both the 85th Legislative Regular and Special Session’s annexation reform bills protecting Industrial District Agreements.

  • Successfully defeating a House and Senate measure during the 85th Legislative Session that would have lowered the required scholastic population for an ISD to petition the Higher Education Coordinating Board to create their own public junior college within a current community college’s service area.