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HJR 148

Memorials, Recognition - Bea's Restaurant, 75th anniversary -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Esther Helton-Haynes

A ceremonial joint resolution honors Bea's Restaurant in Chattanooga for 75 years of family-owned service, recognizing its community role and awarding a formal copy for presentation.

Signed by Governor.
#memorials #recognition
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Bill Summary · HJR 148

Summary — HJR 148: Recognition of Bea’s Restaurant on its 75th Anniversary

Purpose

House Joint Resolution 148 is a ceremonial resolution that honors Bea’s Restaurant of Chattanooga on the occasion of its seventy‑fifth anniversary. The resolution recognizes the restaurant’s long service to the community, its family ownership across generations, and its role as a local gathering place.

Key provisions

  • Commends and honors the owners, staff, and management of Bea’s Restaurant for 75 years of service.
  • Praises the restaurant’s cuisine, customer service, and contribution to Chattanooga’s dining culture.
  • Requests that an appropriate copy of the resolution be prepared for presentation, with a procedural clause allowing the language after the State seal to appear without House or Senate designation upon proper request.

There are no policy mandates, regulatory changes, appropriations, or enforcement provisions in the resolution — it is purely honorary.

Background and notable details cited in the resolution

  • Marks Bea’s Restaurant’s founding year as 1950 and its 75th anniversary.
  • Notes founders Bill and Beatrice Steele and subsequent family ownership: their daughter Bernice and son‑in‑law H.L. Bradshaw; current management described as fourth‑generation (Doug Bradshaw, Dusty, Mike, Stacey, Bryan).
  • Highlights historic features and traditions mentioned in the text (e.g., the restaurant’s “lazy Susans,” Southern menu items like fried chicken and sweet tea, meals prepared from scratch Wednesday–Sunday starting early in the morning).
  • Observes the restaurant’s role in community life (first dates, work lunches, family dinners).

Who is affected

  • Directly honors the Steele and Bradshaw families and the restaurant’s employees.
  • Recognizes the Chattanooga community as beneficiaries of the restaurant’s cultural and social contributions.
  • No legal, fiscal, or regulatory impact on businesses, individuals, or agencies.

Procedural status and timeline (selected)

  • Filed/introduced in early 2025 (record shows filing on Feb 21, 2025).
  • Considered in committee (public hearing and testimony recorded on Apr 22, 2025); reported favorably without amendment (May 12, 2025); committee report sent to Calendars (May 14, 2025).
  • Final status: Signed by the Governor (resolution enacted as an honorary statement by the General Assembly).

Impact

This joint resolution is symbolic. Its primary effect is to create an official, permanent legislative commendation recognizing Bea’s Restaurant’s 75 years of service and to provide a copy of that recognition for presentation to the restaurant or its representatives. There are no budgetary or regulatory consequences.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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