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By David Walsh

By LANDON WOODROOF

Last week, the State Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, chaired by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, deferred action on SB1086, a bill that would strip away local governments’ right to prohibit short-term rentals such as those offered by Airbnb and similar companies.

The bill has been re-scheduled to appear before the committee at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The City of Brentwood, which prohibits short-term rentals, spoke out strongly against the bill during last year’s legislative session. The city has voiced concerns again this year.

“This is clearly a land use bill,” City Manager Kirk Bednar said. “Land use policies and priorities are different in every community across the state, and, therefore, best left to the local decision making process instead of a one-size fits all state law the prevents locally elected officials from being able to decide what is best for their community.”

The Tennessee House of Representatives version of this short-term rental bill, HB1020, passed on first consideration last year. That version, though, pertained only to Nashville.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee moved SB1020 forward last year, but only after stripping it of the language that would limit local governments’ ability to ban short-term rentals.