News Summary
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld a law reducing Nashville’s Metro Council size from 40 to 20 members. The split decision reverses a lower court’s ruling and mandates significant changes for the upcoming elections. While supporters view it as a victory for government efficiency, local officials express disappointment, citing voter preferences for the current council size. The ruling intensifies the ongoing tension between state lawmakers and local governance, raising questions about the balance of power in Tennessee.
Nashville
A split panel of the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that a law to reduce the Metro Council’s membership from 40 to 20 members is constitutional. The decision, delivered on June 3, 2025, came in a 2-1 vote and reverses a previous lower court ruling that had blocked the law. The law, which was passed in 2023, imposes a cap on council sizes for all metro governments across Tennessee, and Nashville was notably the only metropolitan government in the state to exceed the new limit.
As a result of this ruling, Nashville’s Metro Council will have to undergo significant changes, with the new 20-member council structure set to be implemented for the 2027 elections. Following the ruling, Metro Nashville officials are currently in the process of drafting new council maps to align with the updated regulations. Two proposals are being considered: one option includes 15 districts with five at-large members, while the other features 17 members with three at-large representatives.
The appeals court’s decision is seen as a significant victory for proponents of the law, including House Majority Leader William Lamberth, who argued that it addresses the issue of excessive growth in government size. In contrast, Metro officials had initially sued the state, claiming the law violated the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution, which allows local governments to self-govern. A lower court had agreed and issued a temporary injunction against the law in April 2023, but that ruling was overturned by the appeals court.
The appellate judges, Steven Stafford and Carma McGee, concluded that the law does not infringe upon the state’s Constitution. However, Judge Kenny Armstrong dissented, arguing that the law violates the Exemption Clause, which protects metropolitan governments from imposed caps on council size. This dissent highlights the division among legal interpretations regarding the law’s implications for local governance.
The decision has sparked a wave of disappointment among Nashville city officials, including Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, who expressed concern that the ruling overlooks the wishes of Davidson County voters who previously favored maintaining a 40-member council. Nashville Vice Mayor Angie Henderson also criticized the ruling, asserting that it undermines local citizen preferences.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office hailed the court’s ruling as a landmark decision aimed at limiting governmental overhead. The state’s stance appears to promote the idea that cities should operate within defined boundaries as established by legislative mandates.
In the wake of the ruling, Nashville officials are weighing their options regarding a possible appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The decision is likely to intensify the ongoing power struggle between state legislators and local government administrations, raising questions about the limits of state intervention in local governance.
This court ruling marks a pivotal moment in Nashville’s governance structure and reflects broader discussions surrounding the balance of power between state authorities and city officials. The implications of this decision will be closely watched in the coming years as Nashville prepares for its 2027 elections, potentially reshaping the council’s dynamics and the political landscape in the region.
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Additional Resources
- WKRN: Metro Council Downsize Constitutional Decision
- Tennessean: Appeals Court Cuts Metro Nashville Council in Half
- Axios: New Ruling to Cut Metro Council in Half
- Fox 17: Metro Council Reacts to Court Ruling
- Tennessee Lookout: Appeals Court Upholds Law to Halve Nashville Council
- Wikipedia: Nashville
- Google Search: Nashville Metro Council
- Google Scholar: Metro Council Tennessee
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nashville
- Google News: Nashville Metro Council Ruling
Author: HERE Nashville
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