www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-03 16:28:00
The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that the Metro Nashville Council must reduce its size from 40 to 20 members, upholding a 2023 state law limiting metropolitan councils. Metro Nashville had challenged the law, citing the Home Rule Amendment, which they say allows local voters to decide council size. A lower court previously sided with Nashville, deeming the law unconstitutional. The Appeals Court majority disagreed, stating the Legislature retains authority over counties despite home rule status. Vice Mayor Angie Henderson affirmed the council will consider legal options, emphasizing the current 40-member council’s effectiveness. The law would take effect in 2027 if upheld.
(The Center Square) – A ruling by the Tennessee Court of Appeals could force the Metro Nashville Council to reduce its size from 40 to 20 members.
Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill in 2023 that limited metropolitan councils to 20 members. The Metro Nashville Council challenged the law, saying the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution gives Nashville voters the decision on its size.
A chancery court sided with Metro Nashville in 2024 and ruled the law was unconstitutional. The state appealed the ruling and the decision was handed down Tuesday.
“To the contrary, there is ample authority for the proposition that when the Legislature acts through general legislation, the Legislature retains power over a county, despite the county’s home rule status, and this is true even with respect to functions that are governmental or political in nature,” Judges J. Steven Stafford wrote in the majority opinion shared by Judge Carma Dennis McGee.
Judge Kenny Armstrong dissented.
Vice Mayor Angie Henderson said the Metro Council will discuss its next steps with the Department of Law.
“The Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution, in part, stands for the proposition that the size of the Metro Council is a decision for the voters of Metro Nashville,” Henderson said in a statement. “The General Assembly’s 2023 Small Government Efficiency Act was advanced purportedly to address the ‘efficiency & effectiveness;’ of Nashville’s legislative branch. For the last 60 years, this 40-member Council has capably and effectively served the interests of our constituents, who today number some 715,000.”
If the ruling stands, the law would take effect in 2027.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on a legal and political dispute regarding the size of the Metro Nashville Council without promoting a particular ideological viewpoint. It presents the facts of the court rulings, the positions of the involved parties, and quotes from key figures on both sides, such as the court majority opinion, the dissenting judge, and the Vice Mayor. The language remains neutral and descriptive, avoiding emotive or loaded terms that might suggest bias. This objective presentation adheres to factual reporting by focusing on the details of the case and the responses from relevant officials without endorsing or criticizing any political ideology inherent to the issue at hand.
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