The Republican-controlled state House has given final approval to a bill nullifying a local hiring requirement approved by Nashville voters last year.
Supporters said the local hiring requirement discriminates against workers living in surrounding counties.
The bill sponsored by Republican Representative Pat Marsh of Shelbyville was approved on a 72-20 vote on Thursday after the Senate passed the bill earlier this week.
The ballot measure that earned 58 percent of the vote in August requires contractors on public construction projects worth more than $100,000 to assign at least 40 percent of work hours to employees who live within the city, and that 10 percent go to low-income residents.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said she was disappointed at the Legislature for "overturning the will of the voters."
Mayor Barry’s full statement Thursday said:
“While we are disappointed that the General Assembly has passed legislation overturning the will of the voters in Davidson County, I appreciate that nearly all of the Davidson County delegation stood up for the voters of Nashville.
Senators Thelma Harper, Steve Dickerson, and Jeff Yarbro on Monday voted against this legislation, while today, Representatives Bo Mitchell, Bill Beck, Jason Powell, John Ray Clemmons, Harold M. Love Jr., Sherry Jones, and Darren Jernigan stood with the voters of Davidson County. They, along with the lawmakers from outside of Nashville who stood up against this bill and Reps. Mike Stewart and Brenda Gilmore who were excused today but have been strong supporters of the local-hire initiative, should be commended for their efforts.
Regardless of whether this legislation is signed into law at the state level, in Metro we will continue to work with contractors, labor, and community organizations through our Nashville Construction Readiness Partnership workforce development initiative that will offer the access and skills needed for Davidson County residents to engage in the construction industry.”
