Tell Committees to vote NO on Metro Council Cap before Tues, March 7 - (SB87/HB48)

UPDATE: The bill is scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Monday March 6th and by Senate Finance, Ways, and Means on Tuesday March 7th at 8:30am in Senate Hearing Room I. Take action below:

The Tennessee House and Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee is hearing SB87/HB48, which caps the governing body for a metropolitan OR municipal government at 20 members.

This proposal openly defies the wishes of impacted communities in Davidson County, who voted overwhelmingly to reject a ballot measure to shrink the council in 2015. The lack of provisions relating to continuity of governance would immediately disrupt county government, violate the City’s charter, and make the 2023 August election unclear. 

Moreover, this legislation affects more than just Nashville. This egregious case of state preemption reflects a broader trend in efforts by the State to discipline any local governments that dare to represent the wishes of the communities they represent. Therefore, this bill sets a dangerous precedent for democracy in urban, rural, and suburban communities across the state.

Tell House members and the Senate committee to vote NO on SB87/HB48. Show up to Committee on Tuesday, March 7th at 8:30am in Senate Hearing Room I in the Cordell Hull Building, 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N, Nashville, TN 37243.