Hamilton County Commission sends term‑limits private act to state after amending it to require county confirmation
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Summary
The commission voted Feb. 18 to send a private act on term limits to the state legislature but amended the resolution so any private act returned by Nashville must be confirmed by a two‑thirds county commission vote rather than placed automatically on a citizen referendum.
The Hamilton County Commission voted Feb. 18 to send a private‑act resolution on term limits to the state legislature, but only after amending the measure so that any private act returned from Nashville would come back to the county commission for approval by a two‑thirds vote rather than automatically going to a citizen referendum.
Clerk read Resolution 226‑13, which asks the county’s state delegation to introduce a private act imposing term limits on the offices of Hamilton County mayor and county commissioners. Commissioner Hilton moved the resolution; Commissioner Shipley seconded.
Commissioners voiced competing views on process and public input. "So many people that I've talked to are looking forward to this on a referendum," Commissioner Graham said in support of letting voters decide. He added that putting the question on the ballot would give time to explain "pro and con" positions to the electorate.
Another commissioner, speaking without a named attribution in the record, proposed an amendment to require the private act to return to the county commission for confirmation by a super‑majority instead of automatic referendum. The commission voted on that amendment; it passed. The commission then voted on Resolution 226‑13 as amended and approved it.
The amendment shifts the local process: rather than committing to a November ballot automatically if a private act is enacted in Nashville, the county commission would exercise a separate confirmation vote requiring a two‑thirds majority. Proponents said the change lets the commission ensure the version returned from the legislature matches what the commission sent; opponents argued voters should decide directly. "Let the people make the decision," Commissioner Graham said during debate.
The resolution now moves to the Hamilton County state delegation in Nashville as amended. The commission recorded the amendment vote, and then the final passage. The item was listed as Resolution 226‑13 on the Feb. 18 agenda.
Next steps: the county's state delegation will receive the resolution request and would need to draft or carry a private‑act bill in the Tennessee General Assembly; if a private act is enacted, the amended language directs the act to return to the county commission for a two‑thirds confirmation vote.