New state legislation would allow candidates to enter congressional primaries only if they have lived in Tennessee for an extended period.

• State Sen. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) tells Axios his bill would aim to "protect Tennessee from invasion."

Why it matters: The legislation appears to be a direct response to the state’s redrawn 5th congressional district, where a competitive Republican primary is developing.

• Morgan Ortagus, who announced she would run after getting an early endorsement from former President Trump, recently moved here.
• Candidate Robby Starbuck is also a recent transplant.

Driving the news: Niceley says he started considering a residency requirement for U.S. House and Senate races after hearing about Ortagus and learning "that you could move in here and never even vote here and just run for Congress."

• "We became a well-managed state because we elected Tennesseans who know how to pronounce 'Maury County,'" Niceley says.

State of play: The current text of the bill requires that nominees vote in three Tennessee elections. But Niceley says he plans to change the language to focus on a three-year residency requirement for primary candidates, which is in line with the existing rule for state lawmakers.

Between the lines: The Constitution only requires members of the House of Representatives to establish residence in their home state.

• Niceley says federal rules prevent the state from regulating the general election but that primaries can have stricter requirements.

What they're saying: In a statement to Axios, Ortagus says she will "leave state matters to the state legislature."

• "I'm focused on earning the support of Fifth District Tennesseans who want a Conservative fighter to defend President Trump's agenda."
• Starbuck tweeted that the legislation was an attempt to "force me out of the race" and "change the rules in the middle of the game."
• In a statement to Axios, Starbuck predicted the effort would fail and accused opponents of trying "every trick in the book to silence the people's voice."

What's next: The bill is up for a vote today in a Senate committee.

Bringing a women's professional sports franchise to Nashville would pump millions of dollars into the local economy, per new details in a consultant's report released last week.

• A WNBA franchise would generate $9.9 million in annual direct spending, according to an estimate by CAA Icon, the consultant hired by the Metro Nashville Sports Authority's women's professional sports initiative.
• A National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team would bring in $6.1 million annually.

Why it matters: These financial estimates are the latest piece of validation for an ambitious effort to help Nashville secure its first women's pro team.

• An earlier report by CAA Icon showed Nashville has the community and corporate support necessary to support at least one women's team. Surveys showed the WNBA and NWSL had the most support.
• Advocates say attracting a women's pro team is a matter of equity for a city that has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in constructing stadiums and providing taxpayer incentives to men's sports.

What she's saying: Metro Councilmember Nancy VanReece says the women's professional sports initiative has given city leaders proof of concept, and that a WNBA and an NWSL franchise would be supported.

• Now comes the hard work of attracting "the right ownership groups," VanReece tells Axios.
• "We need one, a market (that would support a franchise); two, a venue (for the team to play); and three, passionate ownership," VanReece says. "We have the data to establish one and two are in place. Now is the time to move this information into action."

What's next: CAA Icon will present its final report, including possible next steps on identifying ownership groups and talking directly to the WNBA and NWSL, at the full sports authority meeting Thursday.

Metro Council may have given the green light to the police department to use license plate readers in a trial run, but opponents continue to fight the project.

• Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes has filed LPR-related bills that will be on tonight's council agenda.

🏚 Council will also consider a proposal calling on Metro Planning to amend the NashvilleNext land use policy.

• Supporters say the city's explosive growth necessitates an update to neighborhood land use guidelines, infrastructure and transportation needs.

🚔 Elsewhere, the Council will consider three openings on the Community Oversight Board, the civilian agency that oversees police activity.

🚜 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to lease out a large swath of land along J. Percy Priest Lake for commercial development. (Tennessee Lookout)

💰 Tennessee tax revenues continued to climb in January. (Associated Press)

🎵 The Fisk Jubilee Singers are set to perform at The Bluebird Cafe on Feb. 22. Tickets go on sale this morning. (The Tennessean)

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Nashville's trash crisis is still ongoing.

The latest: The city announced Monday that trash contractor Red River Services has fallen behind on trash collection.

• Residents should expect pickup delays of one or two days.

Background: Red River is in bankruptcy and Metro has been picking up the slack in trash collection, but supply chain and staffing issues have made it difficult to buy more trucks and hire drivers.

• After a one-month pause, the city resumed curbside recycling pickup last month.