Tennessee lawmaker backs down from measure banning local challenges of state law constitutionality Yue Stella Yu, Nashville Tennessean A Tennessee lawmaker's attempt to bar local authorities from filing constitutional challenges over state law has failed for the year. The proposal, spearheaded by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, has been watered down and passed the Senate 17-10 on Wednesday following bipartisan concerns from his colleagues the bill could restrict local governments' authority to hold the state accountable. The House matched with the Senate version Wednesday night and passed the bill 71-21. The bill is pending Gov. Bill Lee's signature. The language barring local constitutional challenges was removed from Kelsey's original proposal. Under the previous language, local authorities would have been barred from suing the state in court or funding similar lawsuits over a state law's constitutionality. The bill also would have allowed any challenged state law to go into effect until the court hands down a final judgment that rules otherwise.