Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A bill authorizing county legislative bodies to recall a person that they appointed to a position via a two-thirds vote was passed in the House Cities and Counties Subcommittee by unanimous 7-0 vote.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the subcommittee considered House Bill 56 (HB0056), sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44).
As introduced, HB0056 “authorizes a county legislative body to recall a person appointed to a position by the county legislative body upon a two-thirds vote of the legislative body.”
The legislation was considered by the subcommittee “as amended” after Rep. Dave Wright (R-Corryton-District 19) brought forward an amendment to change three aspects of the bill.
First, the amendment changes the term “recall” to the term “remove.”
Second, the amendment adds another step before an individual appointed to a position by the county legislative body can be removed, making it a two-step process.
Third, the amendment clarifies that this authority to remove applies to appointed members of boards and commissions and not just any locally appointed official.
The original language of the bill read that, “Notwithstanding a charter, resolution, or another law to the contrary, a county legislative body may recall a person appointed to a position by the county legislative body upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body.”
As amended, the bill text will read that, “Notwithstanding a charter resolution or other law to the contrary, a county legislative body by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body may remove any member of an appointed board or commission if such removal is recommended by the appointing authority.”
This legislation does not apply to someone appointed by a county body to fill a vacancy within the General Assembly.
“The bill was filed just to be able to remove somebody from a committee, that if a mayor recommends to the county commission that somebody needs to be on a committee and then they don’t show up, or they get arrested for something, or whatever reason,” explained Rep. Lamberth. “I mean, right now the county commission doesn’t really have an ability to remove that person from that committee. Once they’re on there, they’re just on there.”
Rep. Lamberth pointed out that the state legislature has the ability to remove individuals from their committees, noting that the governor has a similar authority over other committees and that there’s even city councils with that ability in certain circumstances.
“The county doesn’t have that ability,” continued Rep. Lamberth. “My goal is to give them that ability. I mean this is a committee of subject matter expertise here. It [the amendment] sounds very similar to what I proposed.”
The bill sponsor then stated that “As long as we’re still with the spirit of what I’m trying to do here, just give them the ability. I mean I’m at the will of the committee but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Republican Representatives Ed Butler, John Crawford, Mary Littleton, Jerome Moon, Dave Wright, and Democrat Representatives Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell all voted in favor of the legislation and HB0056 was recommended for “passage if amended.”
HB0056 is now scheduled for consideration in the House Full Committee on State and Local Government on Wednesday, Feb. 19th, 2025.
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
