UPDATE: Gov. Lee signs bill slashing size of Nashville Metro Council

Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill slashing the size of the Metro Nashville Council in half.

The Senate voted 23-7 on Thursday to give final approval to the measure cutting the capital city’s legislative body from 40 members to 20. The House earlier in the week passed the bill on a 72-25 vote.

The speakers of both chambers took the formal steps necessary later on Thursday to send the bill for the prompt signature of the Republican governor.

Lawmakers and the governor coordinated a similar same-day turnaround following last week’s passage of bills aimed at limiting public drag performances and restricting transgender surgeries to adults.

The Metro Council bill calls for new districts to be drawn in time for elections to the reconstituted local government to be held in August. If not, current council members’ terms would be extended by a year.

Legal challenges of the new law are widely expected.