Committee OKs bill to reconstitute airport authority boards, adding state appointees; one member objects

Chairman Bailey explained that Senate Bill 2473, as amended, would add clarity and consistency to regional and metropolitan airport authority governance by vacating and reconstituting boards for the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, Memphis International Airport, McGhee Tyson Airport, and Nashville International Airport.

Under the amendment described by Bailey, metropolitan airport authority boards would have nine members with appointments split among the speaker of the house, the speaker of the senate, the governor, and local executives; regional boards would have 12 members with appointments similarly divided. Bailey said the change is warranted because these airports are growing, require state infrastructure investment and recurring state funding. He said the airports currently receive around $50,000,000 in state funding and that a request this year was for $125,000,000.

Senator Campbell objected, saying the change reduces local control at a time of major airport expansion and said she would vote against the bill "in defense of my city." Other senators, including Senator Powers, argued the change improves representation for surrounding counties and municipalities that use airport services but have no voice on existing boards.

After debate the committee adopted the amendment and approved the bill by recorded vote, 8 in favor and 1 opposed; the bill goes to the calendar. The committee did not at this hearing provide further details on implementation steps or a timeline for appointments.