Sam Hooper

Legislative lawyer. Failed writer. British-American. Honorary Texan. Catholic. Legal tweets @legelawyer.

[Sam Hooper @SamHooper]

Some personal news: Tomorrow I start a new job as legislative counsel at the Institute for Justice, where I will be helping their efforts to defend free speech, property rights and economic liberty. I'll be tweeting on those issues @LegeLawyer, and here for my usual ramblings!

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

What if cities stopped banning the simplest, most affordable kind of housing?

@IJ is launching a new model bill to re-legalize single room occupancy (SROs) and shared living options that once provided millions of Americans with a place to call home.

#SRO #singleroomoccupancy

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

@IJ SROs weren’t "blight". They were community. They were independence. They were the first rung on the housing ladder for millions.

It’s time to bring them back.

👉 Watch this space for the launch of @IJ's ROOM Act.

#Housing #ZoningReform #SROs #YIMBY

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Before the housing crisis, before “affordable housing” programs and endless zoning debates, America had a simple, market-based solution for people who needed an affordable place to live:

🛌Single Room Occupancy housing, or SROs.

A forgotten piece of our housing history. 🧵

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

It’s been a long, hot summer on the road - and back home in Texas - working to advance @IJ’s pro-liberty legislation around the country. 📝 Together, we racked up some solid wins for property rights and economic liberty 🗽 Truly, I have the best job in the world! 🏆 #txlege

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

From late-night prep to a packed room at @StatePolicy: proud to showcase @IJ’s zoning reform legislative work, and the growing movement for property rights and housing. Big thanks to our panelists and everyone who joined the discussion!

#SPNAM #zoningreform #propertyrights

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Hosted a great @IJ breakfast panel, “Zoning Justice: Housing Opportunities Made Easier” at the @StatePolicy annual meeting in New Orleans. Thanks to my co-panelists @DrewHampshire, @Cotton_MT and @RyanPuzycki for your great insights!

#ZoningReform #PropertyRights #SPN #SPNAM

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

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

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

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

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

I couldn’t *not* make my official #SEVVIE portrait my #NewProfilePic! 😂

[Laura Atlas Kravitz @LauraAK_TX]

“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)

[Laura Atlas Kravitz @LauraAK_TX]

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

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

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 😂

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Summer conference season is here! Find me at the @IJ booth or message me to grab coffee & learn about our model legislation!

ALEC - Indianapolis - Jul 16-18
NCSL - Boston - Aug 4-6
CSG East - Providence - Aug 17-20
SPN - New Orleans - Aug 25-28
YIMBYTown - New Haven - Sep 14-16

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

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! 🤓

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Great news! Governor @GregAbbott_TX has signed HB2844, the Texas Food Truck Freedom Act! This bill, sponsored by @BrooksLandgraf and @LoisKolkhorst, creates a single statewide permit for food trucks, cutting bureaucracy while maintaining public safety! #txlege

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Made a lil’ 89R #txlege session in review video / slide show

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

A few thoughts as the Texas legislative session comes to an end, on what it known as “sine die”. Some solid successes for @IJ, with more work to be done next session (we never rest). Full “session in review” video to follow!

#txlege

[Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald]

Jake Tapper -- at the age of 56 and after 30 years in what one may loosely call "journalism" -- pretends to have just woken up and realized what is, in fact, the first axiom of Journalism 101: politicians and governments lie and journalists shouldn't blindly believe them (😲).

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Many thanks to Rep. @BrooksLandgraf and Sen. @LoisKolkhorst for bringing food truck freedom to Texas! HB2844 creates a single statewide permit & inspection process for mobile food vendors, freeing small businesses from excess bureaucracy while maintaining public safety. #txlege

[Sam Hooper @LegeLawyer]

Food truck freedom is coming to Texas! HB2844 is heading to the governor’s desk. Creating a single statewide permit for mobile food vendors will free entrepreneurs from bureaucracy while maintaining public safety. Free the taco truck, save the world! @IJ

#txlege