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Shelby County Commission approves up to $200,000 to support lawsuit challenging proposed school takeover law
Summary
The Shelby County Commission on May 4 voted 8-3 to amend the FY26 budget and transfer up to $200,000 to the tort fund to hire counsel in support of litigation against a proposed state 'takeover' law affecting Memphis-Shelby County Schools, after hours of debate over procedure, funding and local control.
The Shelby County Commission voted 8-3 on May 4 to approve a resolution amending the FY26 general fund operating budget and allocating up to $200,000 to engage counsel in potential litigation challenging a proposed state takeover law targeting Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Commissioner Mikael Lowry moved the resolution, seconded by Commissioner Thornton; the clerk recorded eight ayes and three noes and the motion passed.
The measure funds a legal response to what Mayor Harris and several commissioners called 'Brent Taylor's new takeover law.' Mayor Harris, who participated by phone, said the legislation 'strips to voters in Memphis and Shelby County of any say in the school system and gives that authority to state officials' and warned the state board named in the bill could fire employees, cancel…
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