Cecil Bell Jr.
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Cecil Ivan Bell Jr.
| image = CecilBellJr-PachydermClubMoCo-TheWoodlandsTX24SEPT2019.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| state_house = Texas
| district = 3rd
| party = Republican
| term_start = January 8, 2013
| term_end =
| preceded = Erwin Cain (redistricted)
| succeeded =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|17}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| birth_place = Rosenberg, Texas, U.S.
| occupation = General contractor
| residence = Magnolia, Texas, U.S.
| spouse = Jo Ann Bell
| children =
| alma_mater =
| allegiance = {{Flag|Texas}}
| branch = Texas Military Department
| rank = Colonel (TX)
| unit = Texas State Guard
}}
Cecil Ivan Bell Jr. (born May 17, 1962) is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 3, which initially encompassed Waller County and is now entirely a portion of populous Montgomery County in Southeast Texas.{{cite news|url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/cecil-bell-jr/|title=State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. (R-Magnolia)|work=Texas Tribune|access-date=May 27, 2013}}
Politics
Bell serves on the Appropriations and Land & Resource Management committees and the Appropriations subcommittee on Articles VI, VII & VIII.{{cite web|url=https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=3|title=Texas House of Representatives|first=Texas House of|last=Representatives}}
In January 2015, Bell introduced legislation, HB 623,{{cite web|url=http://www.texasobserver.org/bill-aims-to-bar-texas-clerks-from-issuing-same-sex-marriage-licenses/|title=Bill Aims to Bar Issuance of Same-Sex Marriage Licenses|date=8 January 2015|work=Texas Observer}} that prevents salary, pension, and other benefits from being paid to any Texas state employee who issues a same-sex marriage license. The bill included a provision to forestall legal action challenging the proposed law by mandating that state courts dismiss any such challenges and award court costs and attorney fees to the state.{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-baume/more-sneaky-anti-gay-laws_b_6453808.html | title=More Sneaky Anti-Gay Laws Popping Up | work=Huffington Post | date=January 12, 2015 | access-date=January 12, 2015 | author=Baume, Matt |author1-link=Matt Baume}}{{cite news | url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Same-sex-marriage-hearing-all-about-timing-for-6002946.php | title=Same-sex marriage hearing all about timing for gay Texans | newspaper=Houston Chronicle | date=January 8, 2015 | access-date=January 12, 2015 | author=McGaughy, Lauren}} The bill died in committee.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB623|title=Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 623|website=capitol.texas.gov|access-date=2020-01-31}}
Bell supports expanding career and technology training at public high schools so that students can enter the job market with a career certification but without following the college or university route.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cecilbelljr.com/meetcecil/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193549/http://www.cecilbelljr.com/meetcecil/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 5, 2015|title=Meet Cecil – Cecil Bell|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-31}}
In 2015, Bell sought unsuccessfully to prohibit the State of Texas from complying with Obergefell v. Hodges, the United States Supreme Court legal opinion sanctioning same-sex marriage. In 2017, Bell introduced a more comprehensive bill to allow his state to declare federal laws and court decisions unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable within the boundaries of Texas. Bell has proposed that federal treaties and presidential executive orders be subject to state scrutiny to block actions which the state considers unconstitutional. The legislation would establish a 12-member Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Enforcement, with six members each from the House and the Texas State Senate, to consider federal actions in light of constitutional interpretation in 1787. "I think it is important for patriotic Americans to recognize the strength and necessity of our Constitution. It is also important that we defend that Constitution,” Bell told the Texas House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility.{{cite news|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/could-texas-nullify-laws-rulings-deemed-unconstitutional/deA6XYWC0W3BYWVBi8NEVP/|title=Could Texas nullify U.S. laws, rulings deemed unconstitutional? |author=Chuck Lindell|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB2338|title=Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for HB 2338|website=www.capitol.state.tx.us|access-date=2020-01-31}}
Bell is a member of the Texas State Guard.{{cite news |url=http://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/peggy_fikac/article/State-lawmakers-on-the-front-lines-of-Harvey-12186112.php |title=State lawmakers on the front lines of Harvey response |last=Fikac |first=Peggy |date=10 September 2017 |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=19 January 2018 }}
Bell won his fourth legislative term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 48,562 votes (76 percent), he handily defeated Democrat Lisa Seger, who polled 15,314 (24 percent).{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110200011/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|archive-date=November 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}
On January 25, 2019, Bell, along with Steve Toth and Will Metcalf, filed House Bill 1042, which would require Texas schools and law enforcement agencies to establish active shooter response plans and law enforcement agencies to conduct annual drills while also requiring law enforcement to contain or eliminate a threat immediately.Rincon, Marialuisa. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Henderson-Toth-seek-to-enhance-emergency-13561907.php Henderson, Toth seek to enhance emergency response in hospitals; host a special threats seminar Friday], Houston Chronicle, January 25, 2019.Kent, Roy. [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Bill-would-require-agencies-to-have-plan-for-13561766.php Bill would require agencies to have plan for active shooter situations], Houston Chronicle, January 25, 2019.
Annexation bill
File:Metcalf&Bell--MCTXGOP--CensureVote--ConroeTX--04March2025.jpg
Bell authored a bill in the Texas House, HB 347 of the 86th Session, to ban the process of forced annexation by cities over suburban and rural areas. The bill will require a Texas city to get the approval of the people and businesses affected by the annexation. It passed both chambers of the Texas legislature and was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on May 24, 2019.Owens, Autumn. [https://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/news/local_news/bill-ending-forced-annexation-becomes-law/article_fcb8b541-5674-52ab-906f-1ee8edc7e7d0.html?hss_channel=fbp-25121889784 Bill ending forced annexation becomes law], Weatherford Democrat, June 4, 2019.[https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB347 HB 347 86th Session Legislative Session], Texas Legislature Online, May 24, 2019.
On May 27, 2023, Bell voted no to impeach Ken Paxton.Astudillo, Carla and Chris Essig. [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/ken-paxton-texas-house-impeachment-vote/ Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House. See how each representative voted.], Texas Tribune, May 27, 2023.
As of January 15, 2025, Bell's campaign had $78,199.98 cash on hand.Cecil Bell. Texas Ethics Commission, January 15, 2025.
On March 4, 2025, the Montgomery County Republican Party censured Bell for supporting Dustin Burrows as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and voting for HR4, breaching the Texas GOP’s “No Democrat Chairs” priority.Camacho, Ian. [https://texasscorecard.com/local/montgomery-county-gop-censures-state-reps-cecil-bell-and-will-metcalf/ Montgomery County GOP Censures State Reps. Cecil Bell and Will Metcalf], Texas Scorecard, March 5, 2025.
Political positions
= Marijuana =
Cecil Bell has an "F" rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.https://vote.norml.org/politicians/138308
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Texas House of Representatives, District 3 Republican Primary{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist160_state.htm|website=elections.sos.state.tx.us|title=2012 Republican Party Primary Election|access-date=June 4, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Cecil Bell Jr.
|votes = 7,249
|percentage = 56.90
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bob Bagley
|votes = 3,359
|percentage = 26.36
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Troy Bonin
|votes = 2,133
|percentage = 16.74
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Texas House of Representatives, District 3 General Election{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2012#District_3|website=ballotpedia.org|title=Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012|access-date=June 4, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Cecil Bell Jr.
|votes = 46,383
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 Texas House of Representatives, District 3 Primary Election{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist169_state.htm|website=elections.sos.state.tx.us|title=2014 Republican Party Primary Election|access-date=June 5, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Cecil Bell Jr.
|votes = 11,761
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 Texas House of Representatives, District 3 General Election{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist175_state.htm|website=elections.sos.state.tx.us|title=2014 General Election|access-date=June 5, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Cecil Bell Jr.
|votes = 28,760
|percentage = 91.08
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Larry Parr
|votes = 2,818
|percentage = 8.92
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2016
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Election ! Runners ! Votes ! % |
;2018
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Texas House of Representatives, District 3 General Election{{Cite web|title=2018 General Election|url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist331_state.htm|website=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=2020-01-31}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Cecil Bell Jr.
|votes = 48,619
|percentage = 76.00
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Lisa Seger
|votes = 15,352
|percentage = 24.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Portalbar|Texas|Politics|Conservatism|Business and Economics|Christianity}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130713041139/http://cecilbelljr.com Cecil Bell Jr. for State Representative]}}
- [https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=3 State legislative page]
- [https://www.texastribune.org/directory/cecil-bell-jr/ Cecil Bell Jr. at the Texas Tribune]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Erwin Cain}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
from the 3rd district|years=2013–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Texas House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Cecil, Jr.}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
Category:People from Rosenberg, Texas
Category:People from Magnolia, Texas