The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority board has sued Gov. Bill Lee, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and other state officials over a new Tennessee law that would dissolve the current board and replace it with a new panel appointed mostly by state leaders.

For Chattanooga residents, airline passengers and business owners who rely on the airport, the case could determine who controls policy, contracts and long term planning at Chattanooga Airport. The lawsuit seeks to stop the law from taking effect while the legal challenge proceeds.

The authority operates Chattanooga Airport, also known as Lovell Field. Under current practice, local governments have played a central role in appointments to the board. The disputed law changes that structure.

What the new Tennessee law would change

The challenged measure is Public Chapter 319, passed as part of SB0256 and HB2507 in the Tennessee General Assembly. State records show the law changes the makeup of certain airport authority boards, including Chattanooga's.

  • The current board would be vacated under the law.
  • A new board would be seated under a revised appointment system.
  • Most appointments would be made by state officials rather than local authorities.

The legislation and related amendment are available through the Source Transparency standards we apply to official documents, and the bill text shows the state intended a new governance structure for the airport authority.

The lawsuit asks the court to impede enforcement of the state law that would vacate the board and replace it with members mostly selected by state officials.

The board's legal filing, as reported Sunday, argues the state cannot lawfully restructure the authority in this way. At the time of publication, the state defendants' response had not been detailed in the verified source materials provided here.

Airport board structure has been contested before in Tennessee. A 2024 Davidson County case, Metropolitan Government v. Bill Lee, addressed airport governance issues involving state intervention. Earlier Tennessee appellate records, including Millennium Taxi v. Chattanooga Airport, also show how airport authority powers can end up in court.

In Chattanooga, board membership and appointments are documented in city board records and in Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority meeting minutes. The airport authority also publishes its current Editorial Policy relevant governance references through public records and official meeting materials, including commissioner listings on its website.

Who currently appoints board members

Official city and airport records indicate local government has historically had a significant role in naming members to the Chattanooga airport board. The new state law would reduce that local control by moving more appointment power to statewide officeholders.

That matters because the board oversees a public asset with direct local effects, including terminal planning, air service strategy, commercial leases and airport operations.

What happens next for travelers and local government

The immediate issue is whether a court will pause the law before the current board is displaced. If no court order is issued, the new appointment structure could move forward under state law. If a judge grants relief, the current board could remain in place while the case continues.

  • Travelers should expect airport operations to continue as normal unless officials announce otherwise.
  • Local officials and residents can monitor board actions through the Chattanooga Airport website and public meeting records.
  • Anyone seeking official appointment information can check the State of Tennessee airport boards page and Chattanooga's boards and commissions records.

No operational disruptions were described in the verified source materials. The dispute is about governance and legal authority, not day to day passenger service.

Residents who want updates should watch court filings and official notices from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority and the State of Tennessee. Readers can also review how we handle official documents and public records on our About Us page.

Primary sources: Tennessee Courts, City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee General Assembly, City of Chattanooga, Municipal Technical Advisory Service (University of Tennessee). Reported by Source Text Link, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, Office of the Tennessee Secretary of State, Chattanooga Times Free Press.