NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A bill to rename Nashville International Airport for President Donald Trump has come back after previously being removed from consideration by its sponsor.
HB 217, by Chapel Hill Republican State Rep. Todd Warner, was previously “taken off notice,” or removed from consideration, by Warner prior to being heard by the House Naming & Designating Committee on Feb. 24.
While bills taken off notice by lawmakers, they usually are not up for further consideration by the general assembly; however, if a bill is brought back, it still must make its way through the usual committees before being heard on the full chamber floor.
The bill saw more resistance in the committee, particularly from the Nashville lawmakers on the committee.
“First of all this bill is a waste of time and money,” Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) said of the legislation.
He asked why lawmakers would rename the airport in Nashville, which is in his district, for the current president, stating Trump “has no connection to our community” and has led the nation “on the path of shame, on the path of recklessness.”
“I am vehemently against the renaming of this airport,” he said, nothing three-quarters of Nashvillians voted against Trump in the last election.
Warner countered, stating Trump is only the second president to ever be elected to nonconsecutive terms.
“President Trump has put America first,” Warner said. “When he puts America first, it puts Tennessee first.”
Warner further took issue with Jones stating Nashvillians rejected the current president, stating Tennesseeans largely supported Trump.
“He got 65 percent of the vote the last three elections in this state,” Warner said.
Additionally, Warner said Tennesseans across the state help fund the airport, not just Nashville. An amendment for the bill filed Monday, March 10, makes note of the $23 million appropriated in state funds for the airport in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The amendment also notes BNA, under the authority of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, has proposed a $34.3 million budget request from the state.
Bedford County Republican State Rep. Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville) said he supported the idea of renaming an airport for Trump, but felt BNA was too small an airport with which to do so.
“We should name LAX or Chicago or Atlanta [for him],” Marsh said.
Warner said he disagreed with Marsh, adding state lawmakers lacked the authority to rename the airports Marsh listed.
The move to rename an airport for the current president has a similar federal push. Federal lawmakers have also filed a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for the president, according to Committee Chairman Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood). Bulso said he thought it would be a nice piece of “symmetry” to have both airports serving Washington, D.C. named after presidents, noting the name of Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport (DCA).
Warner said he reached out to Congressman Andy Ogles’ office on the federal bill, and Ogles’ office said that federal bill was “not moving” forward.
The bill ultimately moved out of the Naming & Designating Committee with a negative recommendation, with Reps. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), Rush Bricken (R-Tullahoma), Bulso, Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville), Jones, and Marsh all opposed. Reps. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson), Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), Tom Leatherwood (R-Arlington) and Warner in favor.
It will next be heard by the House Transportation Committee, according to the state capitol website.
