Mike Bell

Senator Mike Bell (R), District 9, has served in the Tennessee senate since 2011.  He serves as chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Bell has a vote score of 67%, placing him at #18 – 23 (ties). Bell supported five bills which TLRC opposed and opposed two bills which TLRC supported.

Bell’s leadership grade of A- is based on sponsorships, co-sponsorships and other meritorious or deleterious acts. He did much better in that department.

Senator Bell sponsored two very good TLRC-endorsed bills:

• HB1749/SB2285 – Court decisions de novo, not based on a state agency’s interpretation.
  Bell allowed this bill to be amended and severely watered down.   This could have been a truly great bill!  
• HB2454/SB2292 – Redefines “obscene” to include educational material in K-12 making it unlawful. Previously obscene and pornographic material at all levels were ruled lawful on the basis of  “for educational purposes.”

Bills Senator Bell supported with his vote:

• HB0204/SB0136 – “The Crown Act” protecting ethnic hairstyles in the work place
• HB2309/SB2464 – Allows professional & business licenses for illegal immigrants in Tennessee
• HB2609/SB2890 – Provides an 80% tax break to the Cincinnati Reds for their farm team in Chattanooga
• HB2886/SB2901 – Provides $500M for Titans to build new stadium
• 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.

Bell opposed:

• HB2222/SB2264 – Holds officials accountable for resettled refugees
• HB2525/SB2545 – Improvements in Asset forfeiture law

Senator Bell is retiring from the Tennessee senate. Representative Mark Hall is running for Bell’s senate seat. The TLRC report is favorable to Representative Hall.

Members need to be reminded for whom they are obligated to work.