Bud Hulsey

Representative Bud Hulsey (R), District 2, has served in the Tennessee State House since 2015. Representative Hulsey has a respectable vote score of 80%, placing him #19 in a body of 99. His leadership grade of A sets him above the crowd at #9. Leadership grades are based on sponsorships, co-sponsorships, amendments, and other acts, both meritorious (+) and deleterious (-). Hulsey sponsored five of the thirty-one bills chosen by TLRC for scoring. All were positive bills.

TLRC scores and grades reflect the entire process, not just end results. We count every vote on every selected bill. Bills are selected for their value to ordinary Tennesseans, or their insult to those values. We encourage our General Assembly members to support the former and oppose the latter. When they don’t, they lose points.

Representative Hulsey supported the following TLRC endorsed bills with his votes:

• HB1137/SB1197 – No restrictions on church activities in declared emergency
• HB1749/SB2285 – Court decisions de novo, not based on a state agency’s interpretation
• HB1867/SB1823 – Vaccine exemptions protected
• HB1871/SB1982 – Recognition that natural immunity is equal or superior to vaccine (Hulsey sponsored)
• HB1960/SB1884 – No government vaccine mandates   (Hulsey sponsored)
• HB2067/SB2189 – Would reduce number of votes necessary to keep a minor party on ballot. (Hulsey sponsored) https://tennesseestar.com/2021/03/16/state-house-subcommittee-rejects-bill-lowering-signature-requirement-to-recognize-minor-political-parties-in-tennessee/
• HB2128/SB2245 – Election integrity measures  (weak)
• HB2222/SB2264 – Holds officials accountable for resettled refugees
• HB2316/SB2153 – No males in girls’ sports
• HB2331/SB2558 – Auditable paper trail voting machines
• HB2454/SB2292 – Redefines “obscene” to include educational material in K-12 making it unlawful
• HB2666/SB2247 – Requires Textbook Commission to provide a list of approved material to GA members
• HB2742/SB2728 – Requires HS to teach virtues of capitalism and the constitution
• HB2746/SB2188 – Makes Ivermectin available over the counter

The other two Hulsey sponsored bills did not pass out of committee so he didn’t have the opportunity to vote for them:

Here are two TLRC-opposed bills that Representative Hulsey also opposed:

• HB0204/SB0136 The Crown Act- protecting ethnic hairstyles in the work place
• HB2886/SB2901 – Provides $500M for Titans to build new stadium

Four TLRC-opposed bills that Hulsey supported:

• HB1201/SB1005  Changes in campaign finance giving advantage to incumbents; limiting freedom of speech.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK5Ov35oRxI
• HB2309/SB2464 – Allows professional licenses for illegal immigrants in Tennessee. https://tennesseestar.com/2022/04/13/tennessee-general-assembly-may-enable-illegal-immigrants-to-acquire-commercial-and-professional-licenses/
• HB2609/SB2890 – Cincinnati Reds 80% tax-break for Chattanooga farm team
• HB8002/SB8002 – Provides $678,218,300 of taxpayer money for Ford to build an electric vehicle plant in W. TN

Corporate welfare in all forms should be opposed. Our state government should not be giving economic advantages to any public or private for-profit entities. Let the free market pick the winners and losers. Jobs would come to Tennessee if we were actually to reform our education system and to educate instead of indoctrinate. A well-educated workforce would be unique in America and every business would want to be in our right-to-work, no income tax state. Members should rethink these handouts. To his credit, Representative Hulsey opposed one of the three corporate welfare bills.

Representative Hulsey leads in the battle against bigger government and for constitutional principles with his courageous bills and his strong arguments in their defense. We wish his fellow members would show as much courage. We need principled members like Hulsey to battle against bigger government and for our 10th amendment rights, and to make good policy decisions for ordinary Tennesseans by Tennesseans. We are in crisis. We can and must do better.

By listing these bills, we hope that tells you what you need to know about your General Assembly members. We encourage you to reach out and let them know how you feel about the various issues and VOTE accordingly. To contact members, go to: https://www.capitol.tn.gov