Senate Bill 2963 and House Bill 2990 propose amendments to Chapter 455 of the Private Acts of 1953, specifically addressing the governance structure of the City of Athens. The bill introduces a three-term limit for Councilpersons, which will take effect starting with the 2024 and 2026 elections. Additionally, it clarifies that any mid-term appointments will not count towards this term limit. The bill also modifies the authority of the Mayor during emergencies, aligning it with the powers granted under Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-8-104.

Furthermore, the bill updates the language used in the existing law by replacing the term "Councilman" with "Councilperson" and making similar changes for plural forms. This change aims to promote gender-neutral language in the legislative text. The bill stipulates that it will only take effect if approved by a two-thirds vote of the City of Athens' legislative body, with the presiding officer responsible for certifying the outcome to the secretary of state.