A court panel has ruled in favor of Nashville, allowing the city to maintain its 40-member Metro Council size despite a state law requiring all metro governments to have 20 or fewer members. The decision was based on Tennessee’s home rule law, which prevents state lawmakers from passing legislation targeting a local government without its consent. This ruling comes after a series of laws passed by Tennessee’s Republican supermajority targeting Nashville’s governing bodies, including sports stadiums, the airport, and police oversight. The legal department of Metro Nashville has successfully sued to block these laws, except for the one eliminating its police oversight board. The decision has sparked controversy in the community, as many had worked to establish the board through a charter amendment in 2018. A whistleblower has alleged that the Metro Nashville Police Department lobbied for the law. Despite this setback, Metro Nashville has created a police oversight department with less authority and power than the original board. The ruling highlights the ongoing power struggle between state and local governments in Tennessee, with Nashville successfully defending its autonomy in this case.
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