NASHVILLE (AP) — Lawmakers could soon be voting on a controversial municipal de-annexation bill that could ultimately wind up shrinking the size of several Tennessee cities.

A Senate committee is expected to take up the de-annexation bill on Wednesday afternoon. The target cities in the legislation include, Memphis, Knoxville, Kingsport, and Chattanooga,

The bill would allow voters in some areas that were previously annexed by larger cities to decide on whether to separate from them.

Memphis Mayor Bill Strickland has said that if the bill passes it could be financially "devastating" to his city.

Senator Bo Watson of Hixon and Rep. Mike Carter of Ooltewah were prime sponsors of the legislation. Both lawmakers are Republicans in Hamilton County.