Protecting Children, Women & Girls

During his time in the Texas Senate, Mayes Middleton has authored legislation addressing women’s collegiate athletics and protections for minors. As a candidate for Texas Attorney General, he has also identified both areas among the issues he says he would pursue if elected.

The Save Women’s Sports Act

In 2023, Middleton authored Senate Bill 15, the Save Women’s Sports Act, which became Texas law on September 1, 2023.

The law requires students competing in intercollegiate athletics at Texas public colleges and universities to generally compete according to their biological sex as stated on qualifying government records. It allows a female student to compete in a male competition when a corresponding competition for female students is not offered or available. The law also prohibits retaliation against someone who reports a violation and provides a mechanism for seeking injunctive relief.

Source: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 15

Strengthening Protections for Minors

Middleton also authored Senate Bill 412, which became effective September 1, 2025.

The legislation changed Texas law concerning affirmative defenses to prosecution for the sale, distribution, or display of material considered harmful to minors. It removed broader defenses that had included scientific, educational, governmental, and similar justifications and generally limited the applicable defense to judicial or law-enforcement officers acting in their official duties.

The law also changed affirmative defenses involving the sexual performance of a child, removing several previously listed purposes, including educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, and legislative purposes.

Source: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 412

What Middleton Says He Would Do as Attorney General

Middleton’s current campaign for Texas Attorney General identifies protections for children and sex-based protections for women and girls among his stated priorities.

His campaign says that, as Attorney General, he would:

• Enforce sex-based eligibility requirements in girls’ and women’s sports.
• Take action concerning access to women’s private spaces based on biological sex.
• Oppose gender-related policies affecting children.
• Pursue enforcement intended to protect children from sexualization.

Source: Mayes Middleton for Texas Attorney General — Campaign Priorities

Standing Up for the Texas Gulf Coast

Representing a Gulf Coast district in the Texas Senate, Mayes Middleton has worked on issues affecting coastal homeowners and industries, including windstorm insurance and the Texas shrimping industry.

Texas Windstorm Insurance Reform

Middleton has repeatedly authored legislation aimed at reforming the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), the insurer of last resort for eligible properties in designated areas along the Texas coast.

In 2023, Middleton authored Senate Bill 1217, a broad TWIA reform proposal addressing the association’s administration, financing and ability to pay claims following catastrophic storms. Among its provisions, the legislation proposed changes to TWIA’s funding structure, board and operations. The bill passed the Texas Senate and advanced through a House committee but did not ultimately become law.

Middleton returned to the issue in 2025 as an author of Senate Bill 2530, another package of proposed TWIA reforms. The legislation included provisions prohibiting TWIA funds from being used to influence legislation, requiring its headquarters to be located in a coastal county, and making other changes to the association’s finances and administration. SB 2530 passed the Senate but was left pending in a House committee.

His work on these measures reflects an ongoing legislative focus on the availability, financing and administration of windstorm coverage for communities along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Sources: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 1217; Senate Bill 2530

Supporting the Texas Shrimping Industry

In 2025, Middleton authored Senate Bill 823, legislation addressing the labeling and representation of imported shrimp sold in Texas.

Under the law, suppliers, wholesalers and distributors selling shrimp in Texas must clearly disclose whether the shrimp is imported. Restaurants are also prohibited from representing imported shrimp as originating from Texas, the United States, or the Gulf of Mexico.

The legislation was intended to give consumers more information about where their shrimp comes from while addressing concerns raised by Texas shrimpers competing with imported products.

Senate Bill 823 became law and took effect September 1, 2025.

Source: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 823

Government Accountability & Taxpayer Protections

Throughout his time in the Texas Legislature, Mayes Middleton has pushed for restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars for lobbying by local governments. As a candidate for Attorney General, he says he would expand that focus to government transparency, waste, fraud and abuse.

Fighting Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

Middleton has repeatedly authored legislation seeking to prohibit political subdivisions from using public funds to hire or contract with registered lobbyists.

In 2023, Middleton authored Senate Bill 175, which would have prohibited political subdivisions from spending public funds to hire registered lobbyists to lobby members of the Texas Legislature. The proposal also addressed public money paid to certain statewide associations that hire or contract with registered lobbyists.

SB 175 passed the Texas Senate but did not ultimately become law.

Middleton returned to the issue during the 2025 legislative session with Senate Bill 19, another proposal restricting taxpayer-funded lobbying. That legislation also passed the Senate but did not complete the legislative process.

He continued pursuing the issue during the 2025 special sessions, authoring similar legislation that again received approval from the Texas Senate.

Middleton has argued that taxpayers should not be required to fund professional lobbyists hired by political subdivisions, while opponents of these proposals have raised concerns that restrictions could limit the ability of local governments to advocate for their communities before the Legislature.

Sources: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 175; Senate Bill 19

What Middleton Says He Would Do as Attorney General

Middleton’s Attorney General campaign includes a proposal he calls “DOGE Texas: Eliminate Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Government.”

His campaign says that, as Attorney General, he would:

• Pursue waste, fraud and abuse involving government entities.
• Enforce Texas open-records laws to increase public access to information about government spending.
• Seek accountability for those who steal taxpayer money.
• Advocate for taxpayer protections and against the misuse of public funds.

Source: Mayes Middleton for Texas Attorney General — Campaign Priorities

Texas Energy & Oil and Gas

Texas’ oil and gas industry plays a major role in the state’s economy, but long-term inactive wells can eventually become orphaned wells that the state must address.

Middleton also has professional experience in the industry. He serves as President and CEO of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company.

Addressing Inactive and Orphaned Wells

In 2025, Middleton authored Senate Bill 1150, which became Texas law.

The legislation strengthened requirements for certain older oil and gas wells that have remained inactive for extended periods. It added testing and reporting requirements, increased oversight by the Railroad Commission of Texas, and established additional requirements for operators seeking to extend deadlines for plugging certain long-term inactive wells.

The legislation was designed to address the number of inactive wells that can eventually become orphaned and require state resources to plug.

Most provisions of SB 1150 took effect September 1, 2025, with additional requirements for certain older inactive wells scheduled to take effect in 2027.

Sources: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 1150; Texas Senate — Senator Mayes Middleton, District 11

Religious Liberty in Public Schools

In 2025, Middleton authored Senate Bill 11, which became Texas law and allows public school districts and eligible charter schools to adopt policies providing time for voluntary prayer and the reading of the Bible or other religious texts.

Participation requires written consent, and schools must protect students and employees who choose not to participate. The law requires school boards to vote on whether to adopt such a policy but does not require them to establish one.

SB 11 also gives the Texas Attorney General a role in advising participating schools on compliance and, upon request, defending them against legal challenges arising from the policy.

Source: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 11

SNAP Reform

In 2025, Middleton authored Senate Bill 379, which became law and prohibits SNAP benefits from being used to purchase certain sweetened drinks and candy.

Because federal approval was required to implement the restriction, Texas sought and received a federal waiver. The new SNAP guidelines took effect April 1, 2026.

Sources: Texas Legislature Online — Senate Bill 379; Office of the Texas Governor

Other Priorities as Attorney General

Middleton’s campaign identifies several additional priorities he says he would pursue as Texas Attorney General, including:

• Border Security: Enforce immigration-related laws, challenge sanctuary-city policies and combat human trafficking.
• Crime & Public Safety: Support stronger policies for violent offenders and pursue action involving district attorneys who refuse to enforce state law.
• Election Integrity: Enforce Texas election and voter identification laws.
• Consumer Protection: Pursue deceptive trade practices and other scams affecting Texas consumers.
• Foreign Threats: Oppose efforts by foreign adversaries to acquire Texas property.
• Second Amendment: Defend gun rights and oppose additional restrictions on lawful gun ownership.
• Public Corruption: Pursue accountability for public officials who misuse their positions.

Source: Mayes Middleton for Texas Attorney General — Campaign Priorities