House Advances Legislation Limiting Health Boards’ Autonomy

Legislation aimed at scaling back the power of Tennessee’s six independent metropolitan health boards passed the Health Subcommittee on Tuesday. House Bill 7 would decrease the autonomy of health departments in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, and Sullivan Counties. These boards are comprised of unelected members with their own authority to issue health directives independently from the state.

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed the boards’ unchecked power to adopt rules and regulations as unelected bureaucrats in these counties. The bill proposes that any county health director, health officer and board of health would move to a strictly advisory role, while elected county mayors would have the final authority to establish and implement health policies.

House Bill 7 is scheduled to be heard in the full Health Committee on Wednesday, March 3.