Joshua Sanders: How Houston Fights for Itself in Austin and Washington

Joshua Sanders is the City of Houston's Chief of Intergovernmental Relations — the person responsible for protecting and advancing Houston's interests at the Texas Legislature, in Washington D.C., and across all 16 members of City Council. In this episode, Owen Conflenti sits down with Sanders to explain what that office actually does, and why the 18 months between legislative sessions may matter more than the 140-day session itself. Sanders breaks down the scale of the job — over 2,000 bills per session directly affect Houston — and walks through two of the last session's biggest wins: $100 million secured for the Lynchburg Pump Station, a piece of infrastructure that supplies 60% of Houston's drinking water and supports close to 40% of all U.S. petrochemical refining capacity, and a change in state law that allows doctors working alongside law enforcement to petition courts to compel severely mentally ill homeless individuals into treatment. He also puts a hard number on the homelessness crisis: Houston spends roughly $40 million per year on EMS care for people who cycle through emergency rooms and return to the street because no long-term infrastructure exists to receive them. Throughout the conversation, Sanders returns to a consistent philosophy: the work is built on relationships, sustained by trust, and measured in the long game. Thanks for listening! New episodes from inside Houston City Hall, featuring candid conversations about the issues, decisions, and leadership shaping the future of Houston. Connect with Mayor John Whitmire and the Mayor’s Office: Instagram: @houstonmayor X: @HouMayor Website: https://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/ Follow the show for more conversations from inside the Mayor’s Office.