Sam Hooper
@LegeLawyer
Attorney. Legislative counsel @IJ. Fmr #txlege. Economic liberty, property rights & free speech. Urbanism & zoning reform. Views my own, etc.
Summer conference season is underway, and that means I will be representing the @IJ legislative team at @ALEC_states, @NCSLorg, @CSGovts, @StatePolicy and @YIMBYtown. Swing by the IJ booth to say hi and talk policy! 🤓
The federal government can seize your property and take it forever even if it can't clearly tell you what crime you committed. @IJ sued the FBI over its civil forfeiture practices, but unfortunately that lawsuit will come to an end after an appeals court refused to correct the…
You come for the king, you better not miss… 😎
JUST HEARD A BIG NAME IN #TXLEGE MEDIA IS GETTIN THEIR #SEVVIE AWARD PUT ON A HAT OR T-SHIRT OR SOMETHIN. WATCH DIS SPACE 👀
New housing is expensive and not affordable to the poor. But the people who can afford to live in the new building vacate their old home, which is affordable. The affordability benefits of new housing are indirect.
DIS IS THA #TXLEGE TIMELINE CLEANSER THAT #TXLEGE NEEDS NOW MORE THAN EVER THANK YOU SAM, LAURA, N ALL MY OTHER #TXLEGE HEROES 4 MAKIN #TXLEGE TWITTER SUCH A FUN, INTERESTING, N (SOMETIMES) WHOLESOME PLACE 2 B #TXLEGE #SEVVIE🧡🦁🦄🖌️🏆
Ok #TxLege peeps, I know everyone is consumed with the same breaking news right now: how did the amazing portrait commission in which @3SeveralDays #SEVVIE winner @LauraAK_TX painted me with my own SEVVIE award come about? Here’s the tea you’ve been waiting for! ☕️🫖
Ok #TxLege peeps, I know everyone is consumed with the same breaking news right now: how did the amazing portrait commission in which @3SeveralDays #SEVVIE winner @LauraAK_TX painted me with my own SEVVIE award come about? Here’s the tea you’ve been waiting for! ☕️🫖
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Ever wondered how the International Code Council handles voting for building code changes? You're going to love it, I promise. 1st, only governmental members may vote; I.e. code officials like those I listed below. 2nd, the voting structure is as shown below, heavily weighting…
Lawyers who cited fake AI cases face some real sanctions this time: -Disqualified from the case -Ordered to provide copy of sanctions order to all clients, opposing counsel, and judge in every pending case and every attorney in their firm -Referred to state bar for…
The evolution of Sam. 2016 vs 2025. Weirdly I look older in the 2016 version 😂
DIS IS THA GREATEST #SEVVIE AWARD DISPLAY IN #TXLEGE HISTORY N ITS NOT CLOSE 🐎INDELIBLE PENDANT DRIP 🐎BEST STATE FLAG 🐎LAURA 🐎SWEET PONE 🐎PAPYRUS SCROLL 2 DIE 4 IT HAS EVERYTHING THATS HOW U CELEBRATE WHEN UR THA #1 #TXLEGE INFLUENCER 💯
In Texas, we don’t just win awards. We immortalize them in acrylic on canvas. I proudly present my official 89R SEVVIE portrait, masterfully rendered by the inspired @LauraAK_TX (a SEVVIE winner herself!) Long may the “Best #TxLege Influencer” reign. 🦁👑🦄 #SEVVIE #TxLege
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NOW: TX-18 candidate Isaiah Martin was testifying against redistricting when tensions boiled over—he went over time, refused to yield, and was tackled out of the hearing room. @cbsaustin @_audreywong @isaiahrmartin
It’s the attention to detail that truly elevates this piece - @LauraAK_TX perfectly captures my signature legislative drafting style (“blah blah… food trucks…”). My freestyle, beat poet lawyering couldn’t be contained at Lege Council, so I had to move to IJ 😂
“Best Ode to a #SEVVIE winner for a #SEVVIE winner by a #SEVVIE winner in celebration of the 89(R) #SEVVIES. For @LegeLawyer , best #txlege influencer #SEVVIE winner Laura Atlas Kravitz, best #txlege Artist #SEVVIE winner Austin, TX (2025)
I must admit, this #SEVVIE winner portrait took @3SeveralDays because @LegeLawyer was so excited he wouldn’t sit still. The unicorn and lion were excellent though. #txlege
Posing for my #SEVVIE winner portrait was so much fun. A bit stressful, because the lion was hungry and the unicorn wouldn't stay still. But fun, nonetheless. @LauraAK_TX sure can paint under pressure! 😂#txlege
“Best Ode to a #SEVVIE winner for a #SEVVIE winner by a #SEVVIE winner in celebration of the 89(R) #SEVVIES. For @LegeLawyer , best #txlege influencer #SEVVIE winner Laura Atlas Kravitz, best #txlege Artist #SEVVIE winner Austin, TX (2025)
Contemplating the infinite nature of redistricting... #txlege
My wife is in the University of Arkansas Facebook group for moms of incoming freshman. I convinced her to send me this screenshot, but there are so many more absolutely ridiculous questions like this. Some of these kids (and their moms) aren't going to make it. 😂
At the nation’s 2nd largest FedEx hub, near Indianapolis airport, police routinely pull parcels from conveyor belts and run them past K-9s. If a dog alerts and officers find cash, Indiana prosecutors try to keep the money through #CivilForfeiture. 🧵 ij.org/press-release/…
I couldn’t *not* make my official #SEVVIE portrait my #NewProfilePic! 😂
I’m gonna push back on this a little. At the statewide level (in my experience working on housing reforms in Texas, New Hampshire, Montana and elsewhere) you need to keep a big, unruly tent to get things passed. City-level urbanism groups can afford to take a wider view though.
Good piece from @CSElmendorf and @ProfSchleich making the case for YIMBYs to move in a more cross-issue direction, focused broadly on creating livable cities: housing, public safety, clean streets, rigorous public schools, and better transportation