Sampson Public Affairs

About Sampson Public Affairs

Since its launch in 2021, Sampson Public Affairs has a proven track record of getting results for clients. Our team has earned a reputation for honesty, relentless work ethic and treating all stakeholders with respect. We leverage strong member relationships based on year-around engagement. Our team provides sound strategic advice and unmatched client service.

SPA has represented clients at the Texas Legislature on matters related to energy and electricity, real estate, gaming, education, medicine, insurance, non-discrimination, broadband, social media, state contracting and financial services.

Our Team

Chance Sampson

Chance Sampson has over 20 years of experience in government affairs and law. He began his career in 2001 as a legislative aide to Senator Judith Zaffirini. Then, Sen. Royce West hired Chance as Director of the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee.

In 2005, he entered The University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, Chance worked in government affairs at Texas Education Agency and for Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson at the Texas Supreme Court. He was a litigator at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he helped successfully lobby the Legislature to amend an excise tax. Chance returned to full-time government affairs in 2010 where he became Co-Legislative Director to Comptroller Susan Combs.

In 2013, he joined Entergy Texas, where became Vice President of Public Affairs and led the successful lobby effort to pass major utility legislation in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Chance launched Sampson Public Affairs in 2021.

Named a Rising Star Lobbyist by Capitol Inside

Johanna Kim

Johanna Kim has worked at the Texas Capitol for 20 years. She began her career in the office for Senator Kip Averitt, where she worked for four legislative sessions. Upon his retirement, Johanna joined the office of Senator Joan Huffman. Since 2015 she has worked for Senator Kel Seliger, serving as Chief of Staff for the last five years. Previously, she was Director for the Senate Higher Education Committee under Chairman Seliger.

Johanna has worked on economic development, public education, transportation, border security, and health and human services legislation. She was also responsible for Articles I, II, III, and VII of the state budget and the Sunset Commission’s work evaluating state agencies.

Upon Senator Seliger’s retirement, Ms. Kim served as Vice President for Governmental Affairs at the Association of Electricity Companies of Texas before joining Sampson.

Services

Strategy

Listening to clients’ goals and challenges and helping them develop an appropriate responsive legislative agenda or policy position
Proposing a strategic engagement plan designed to achieve policy goals, including plans to pass or defeat legislation or achieve an appropriations, regulatory or procurement outcome
Drafting legislation and/or amendments, identifying bill authors and sponsors and preparing testimony

Tracking and Reporting

Identifying, analyzing, tracking and reporting on state legislation and legislative proposals that may impact clients
Monitoring regulatory and legislative hearings, reports and rulemakings and reporting client impacts
Serving as the “eyes and ears” of clients at the Texas Capitol

Advocacy

Implementing clients’ policy objectives by lobbying legislators, staff and executive branch officials, leveraging a reputation for integrity and strong relationships built on trust
Arranging and attending meetings with elected officials and appropriate agency representatives and stakeholders, consistent with the strategic engagement plan