What A Great Week in Fort Worth: CEO Update
So, as you wrap up – or begin – your holiday shopping, please know that everyone here at ALEC is ready to support you through the New Year, 2026, and beyond.
With record-breaking attendance, everyone who came to the 2025 States & Nation Policy Summit (SNPS) was treated to an incredible lineup of speakers, including messages from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary for Family Support for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Ft. Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, and more.
This week has been a non-stop effort by business leaders, policy experts, and state legislators from both sides of the aisle to consider 80 draft model policies, look into our objectives for next year with ALEC’s new Essential Policy Solutions for 2026, and defend the principles that make our organization and country great as we approach 250 years as a nation – limited government, free markets, and federalism. We had a wonderful slate of panels, workshops, and speakers covering everything from election integrity to the challenges of eliminating property taxes. We heard from speakers on the importance of fostering safer communities through discussions on preventing child abuse and neglect, as well as exploring innovative treatments such as ibogaine therapy to support veterans struggling with PTSD.
Tuesday evening was a night for recognition. Thanking those who went above and beyond in 2025, ALEC honored our Legislators of the Year: Texas Tech University Chancellor & Former TX President Pro Tempore Senator Brandon Creighton (TX); Speaker Dustin Burrows (TX); Senator Jerry C. Cirino (OH); Senator Micheal Bergstrom (OK). We also recognized our Public Sector State Chair of the Year, Speaker Dan Hawkins (KS), Private Sector State Chair of the Year, Joe Arite, and many more.
Wednesday kicked off with a proper Lone Star welcome from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Next, we received a message from legendary journalist and radio host Hugh Hewitt, followed by my discussion on interchange and government regulation with the Honorable Jeb Hensarling.
Also on Wednesday, Jared Borg, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for State Governments, accepted the Defender of Federalism Award on behalf of his team, and Josh Robertson received the Gregor G. Peterson Prize for his work at Black Pastors United for Education. We were honored to have HHS Assistant Secretary Alex Adams join us to give an update on the administration’s priorities and pressing challenges within child foster care, grounding the conversation in action and accountability.
Later that day, renowned economist Dr. Arthur Laffer presented the 2025 Laffer Award for Economic Excellence to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for his work restoring economic freedom and unleashing prosperity for American businesses.
On Thursday, as events began to wind down, there was one last hurrah, as Erika Donalds received the American Civics & History Award for her work promoting civics education, Former Texas Governor Rick Perry and CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, Bryan Hubbard, discussed helping veterans with innovative treatments, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins shared how her experience crafting successful policies in Texas, particularly with rural communities, prepared her for her role is President Trump’s Cabinet.
This was also the day for ALEC’s 2025 National Chairman, Sen. Patricia Rucker of West Virginia, to hand off the gavel to 2026 National Chairman, Rep. Demi Busatta of Florida. We thank Patricia for her leadership in making 2025 one of the best ALEC years ever.
If you made it out to Fort Worth, then we hope you made the most of your post-Thanksgiving visit. If not, we’re sorry we missed you and that you missed a wonderful opportunity to learn about critical issues facing state and local leaders today. You can view all of the 2025 Summit general sessions online here.
So, as you wrap up – or begin – your holiday shopping, please know that everyone here at ALEC is ready to support you through the New Year, 2026, and beyond. Legislator engagement is up, and we are hard at work preparing to make the next year an even greater success. We have a lot to do! Be on the lookout for more content from ALEC as we kick off our 250th celebration this January. And don’t forget to start making plans for Orlando, July 22 – 24.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!