Legislation banning residency requirements for police officers and firefighters has hit a snag in the Tennessee General Assembly.

The state Senate on Monday, March 7, rejected the House’s version of a bill that would have banned residency requirements — but only in Memphis.

The Senate passed a version of the ban last year prohibiting such requirements statewide, with an exception allowing Hamilton County to enact them. The House in late February passed an inverted version, amending the bill to allow residency requirements everywhere except Memphis.

Because the two chambers passed very different versions of the same bill, they have to be reconciled before they can be sent to Gov. Bill Lee to sign them into law. The Senate could have approved the House version on Monday, but refused to concur.

General Assembly passes ban on police, fire residency requirements — for Memphis only

Now the bill goes back to the House, which can accept or reject the Senate version. If it refuses, a conference committee comprising members of both chambers will have to hash out the differences, according to General Assembly rules.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) sponsored the bill and made the motion to refuse to concur. His colleagues agreed without discussion.

Kelsey and Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) argued the city of Memphis shouldn’t exclude potential employees during a labor shortage. Faison said the bill was targeted at Memphis because residency requirements aren’t an issue elsewhere.

The ban has the support of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis and others, but many local activists and a majority of the Memphis City Council oppose it, saying the police force should reflect and understand the city it serves.

Kelsey and two GOP spokesmen did not immediately respond to emails.