Metro Nashville’s recently passed anti-discrimination ordinance took another blow Thursday. The Tennessee Senate joined the state House in passing a bill that says local governments can’t insist on more protections than the state does.
Senate Republican Jack Johnson of Williamson County says the new Metro rule creates dangerous confusion about what standards you have to live up to, if you sign up to do work for cities and counties.
“We should be consistent across the state. And when we get into a situation to where various municipalities, various counties have different policies with regards to discrimination, I think we start down a very slippery slope.”
The proposed state law would undo a recent local ordinance that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to those things that a Metro contractor may not discriminate against.
Goodlettsville Senator Joe Haynes made a last stand against the new law.
“Davidson County has already passed an anti-discrimination ordinance. And I don’t think you ought to come in, after the fact, and nullify the action of my local body.”
But Haynes was unable to get the Senate to exempt Metro Nashville from the proposal.
The bill passed 18 to 8, but now must return to the House for agreement on an technical amendment added on the Senate floor.
The bill is HB 600 Casada/SB 632 Beavers.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM