Principal
Austin
mspratt@hbstrategies.us

Molly is a well-respected and effective legislative professional with nearly a decade of in-depth policy experience inside the Texas Capitol. Molly has worked in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, most recently serving as chief of staff to Texas State Senator Joan Huffman. Combined with her deep roots in the state and her experience in the Texas Legislature, Molly provides clients with a holistic understanding of the inner workings of the Texas Legislature and how to get things done. She was recognized by the state’s top political media outlet, Capitol Inside, as a “Rising Star” lobbyist in 2023.

Molly started as an intern in the Texas House of Representatives and quickly demonstrated her legislative skill as she helped advise and lead efforts on significant legislation for the state. She has earned the respect of lawmakers across party lines for her diligent public policy work and built a reputation as a straight shooter. 

While Molly served as her chief of staff, Sen. Huffman was President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate, and Chair of the Senate Committees on Jurisprudence, Redistricting, and Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety. Serving as her primary advisor included detailed work on the funding mechanisms for various state programs and agencies, as well as formulating and finalizing a final state budget totaling approximately 250 billion dollars, with a special focus on General Government, the Judiciary, and Criminal Justice & Public Safety. Prior to that, Molly served in staff roles to Texas State Representatives Dan Huberty and Mark Shelton. 

In 2019, Molly was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). TCDD’s mission is to create change so that all people with disabilities are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives. Although her term has lapsed, Molly remains an advocate for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for The Arc of the Capital Area, one of the oldest, continuously operating non-profits in Austin. The Arc is committed to empowering Central Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through compassionate case management and innovative programs.   

Molly is an eighth-generation Texan, the granddaughter of world-renowned Texas ranchers, the daughter of a retired Navy Commander, and a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.