As Tennessee Lawmakers Make Their Journey To Nashville For Their Annual Legislative Stay, Johnson City Leaders Are Hopeful No Additional Restrictions Will Be Placed On The City’s Ability To Annex And Grow Its Tax Base. As It Stands Now, County Residents Have The Right To De-Annex Under Certain Conditions. A Bill Proposed By Representative Mike Carter Last Year Would Allow 10 Percent Of Voters In A City To Petition For A De-Annexation Referendum In Areas Annexed After 1998. No Final Action Has Been Taken On That Referendum.