A panel of judges has ruled that the law to shrink the size of Nashville’s Metro Council violated state law. 

In 2023, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law that would limit council representation to 20 members.  The court found that the law violated the ‘Home Rule Amendment’ of the Tennessee Constitution which means that for the law to go into effect, Nashville citizens would have to vote for it on a local level.

“Congratulations to Director Dietz and our Metro Legal department on another successful defense of our right to self-determination under the Tennessee Constitution,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell.

Vice Mayor Angie Henderson issued the following statement on the court’s ruling:

“I am grateful to the Metro Legal Department for their successful argument leading to the Chancery Court’s decision to uphold the Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County as well as the local legislation clause of the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution.

“I watched this case be expertly argued by Metro Legal in May and read the full ruling of the Chancery Court yesterday evening.

“Metro Nashville was first in the nation to fully consolidate a city and a county government, and in so doing, a 40-member, highly-representative, local legislative branch was created by the voters.

It is an honor to be elected to lead the Metro Council and a privilege to support all 40 members in our collective service to the people of Nashville & Davidson County.”

The state has 30 days to appeal the ruling.