TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 8, 2023

The Republican plan to cap local metropolitan governing bodies at 20 members cleared the full House on Monday and a key Senate committee yesterday, Axios Nashville reports. The bill, HB48/SB87, would have the effect of cutting the Nashville Metro Council in half. Nashville Mayor John Cooper wrote to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R- Oak Ridge, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R- Crossville, and Gov. Bill Lee this week outlining his opposition to the plan. At a minimum, he is asking the leaders to give Davidson County voters the power to sign off on the proposal or defer the measure for one year. Under the current bill, new districts would need to be in place for the May 18 qualifying deadline and the election on Aug. 3. Cooper says there is not enough time to implement new districts by then.