Pete Woodard shows off new Chattanooga city limits signs at the City of Chattanooga Traffic Operations building.NASHVILLE – Legislation ending Tennessee’s 59-year-old “forced annexation” law is heading for Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk after overwhelmingly passing the House on Wednesday.
Sponsored by Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, and Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, the bill easily cleared the House on an 85-4 vote after decades of unsuccessful efforts to repeal an unpopular law that cities argue is critical for their continued growth and economic development.
Property rights activists cheered from the galleries.
Under the legislation, Tennessee towns and cities could no longer annex property simply by passing an ordinance.
Instead, the only way cities would be able to annex is through petition brought by property owners wanting to come in or if a majority of voters cast ballots to do so in a public referendum.