A bill that Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has argued would wrest control of the local airport board away from city leaders has cleared both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly.
The measure — House Bill 2507 — now requires a signature from Gov. Bill Lee. It would vacate and reconstitute airport boards in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville and the Tri-Cities, which includes Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol. Under the bill, new boards would consist of nine members, two of whom would be appointed by the speaker of the House, two by the speaker of the Senate, two by the governor and three by local leaders.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga mayor blasts state bill that would reconstitute airport board)
The Chattanooga Airport was a city department until the 1980s, when it became an independent entity. As is, all nine members of the airport’s board of commissioners are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Under this proposed legislation, a majority of the members would be appointed by the state.
Republican lawmakers have argued the state deserves greater influence over board appointments because it provides a significant amount of public funding to airports. Through a spokesperson, Chattanooga Airport CEO April Cameron declined to comment on the bill.