HB 4397

Thompson Auctioneer Bill Licenses Corporations, Heavy Equipment Optional

Died in committee

Verdict: Certified scam

Certified scamReviewed

Rep. Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141

Why it's charged

Rider: Caption mismatch

THE CAPTION

“relating to the creation of an auctioneer's license for heavy”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE RIDER

…“the Department may issue an auctioneer's license to corporations”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption names a license for heavy equipment dealers, but the only new clause lets the department license corporations of any kind. The words heavy equipment appear nowhere in the added text.

Rider: Caption mismatch

On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill text and certified it.

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the creation of an auctioneer's license for heavy equipment dealers.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: heavy equipment dealers. Bill: corporations of any kind can hold an auctioneer’s license.

The bill adds a subsection to the state auctioneer licensing law that lets the department issue an auctioneer's license to corporations under rules the commission writes, notwithstanding the rest of the chapter. The caption says the license is for heavy equipment dealers, but the added text never mentions heavy equipment and reaches corporations of any kind. Starting September 1, 2025, a corporation could hold an auctioneer's license in its own name, while the existing section speaks of licensing a person or individual.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4397 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Rep. Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141

ITEM

relating to the creation of an auctioneer's license for heavy equipment dealers.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: heavy equipment dealers. Bill: corporations of any kind can hold an auctioneer’s license.

CERTIFIED SCAM CHARGES

[x] RIDER: CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 80%

THE CAPTION

“relating to the creation of an auctioneer's license for heavy”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE RIDER

…“the Department may issue an auctioneer's license to corporations”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption names a license for heavy equipment dealers, but the only new clause lets the department license corporations of any kind. The words heavy equipment appear nowhere in the added text.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 11, 2025Filed
Apr 1, 2025Read first time
Apr 1, 2025Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Certified scam

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Senfronia Thompson

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$40K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$23K Texas Sands PAC$14K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 18, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$40,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$22,500.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas Sands PAC$14,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Adversarial review by claude-opus-5-5 at high effort: Certified scam.

Confirming read by claude-fable-5-1 at high effort: Certified scam.

Opus 5.5 reviewed the candidate before Fable's confirmation read.

Analysis of text version I by claude-fable-5-1, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 11, 2025

04/01/2025 H Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures: Apr 1 2025 12:28PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 5:18 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

AUCTIONS & AUCTIONEERS

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS COMMISSION OF

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 266 words

89R18036 TYPED

By: Thompson
H.B. No. 4397

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of an auctioneer's license for heavy

equipment dealers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sec. 1802.051, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding subsection (e) to read as follows:

LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not act as an auctioneer

or associate auctioneer in this state unless the person holds a

license issued by the department under this chapter.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 777 (H.B.

2481), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2015.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an individual who

is licensed under this chapter may not act as an auctioneer or

associate auctioneer for an entity unless the entity:

(1) is an auction company owned or operated by an

individual who is licensed under this chapter; or

(2) is a real estate brokerage firm that is operated by

a broker licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission.

(d) An individual who is licensed under this chapter may

conduct an auction to sell motor vehicles, as defined by Section

501.002 or 502.001, Transportation Code, for a person who holds:

(1) a dealer general distinguishing number or a

wholesale motor vehicle auction general distinguishing number

issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 503, Transportation Code; or

(2) a license issued under Subchapter C, Chapter 2302.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Chapter,

the Department may issue an auctioneer's license to corporations

pursuant to rules promulgated by the Commission.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.