On Monday, Tennessee Republicans filed House Bill 48 to reduce the size of the Nashville Metro Council in half. 

The legislation is seen as retaliation for the blocking of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Nashville by the council.

“The GOP super-majority’s continued efforts to overstep into local affairs and usurp the decision-making authority of local officials for the purpose of centralizing more and more power at the state level is concerning,” Democratic House Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons said. “Ultimately, Nashville families know what’s best for Nashville.”

In 2015, Nashvillians rejected legislation to reduce the size of the council from 40 to 27. 

“As recently as 2015, Nashville residents voted by a nearly two-thirds margin to keep the Metro Council at 40 members. Far from strengthening local democracy, today’s legislation undermines the will of Nashville voters and effective local governance,” said Mayor John Cooper. “Contrary to claims by our state colleagues, this Metro Council has successfully facilitated historic accomplishments for our city, including: record investments in education; enhanced support for our first responders; and major economic development agreements that will directly benefit the state’s economy. Nashville is the engine of the state’s economy and the envy of cities across the country. That success has been built with Metro’s 60 years of good governing by our 40-person Council.”