5 days ago
New ruling revives effort to cut Nashville's Metro Council in half
A Tennessee appeals court has revived state Republicans' effort to cut the size of Nashville's 40-member Metro Council in half.
Why it matters: The 2-1 decision released Tuesday reverses a lower court ruling and hands the state a significant victory in its ongoing legal battle with Metro.
If the appeals ruling stands, the council would be reduced to 20 members following an upcoming election.
The big picture: Republican lawmakers approved a law to shrink the council in 2023 amid a pitched battle between state and local leaders.
The law would have shrunk the size of the council after the August 2023 election. Courts initially delayed the law and then ruled that it violated the Tennessee Constitution because it was an attempt to single out Nashville.
The latest: The divided appeals court disagreed, saying the law was constitutionally sound because it could apply in Nashville and to future metropolitan councils.
"There is simply 'nothing in the language of the constitution to prevent' the Tennessee General Assembly from imposing its own limit on the voting membership of a metropolitan council," the ruling states.
What's next: The city could seek a review from the Tennessee Supreme Court.
What they're saying:"We are understandably disappointed and concerned about this ruling's implications for local sovereignty," Metro associate law director Allison L. Bussell said in a statement.
