Bill > SB1734

This bill, effective September 1, 2030, will reclassify Tennessee counties into five population-based categories, down from the current seven, to determine the salaries of general sessions and juvenile judges. It also revises the minimum salary requirements for these judges and establishes a new county litigation tax, ranging from $1 to $5 per case depending on the county's class, to help cover these judicial salaries. This tax will apply to civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic cases initiated in general sessions or juvenile courts. The bill also clarifies that judges in more populous counties (Class 1-3) will be full-time and prohibited from practicing law, while those in less populous counties (Class 4-5) can be part-time and continue other employment, unless a county's legislative body votes to make all judges full-time. Importantly, the bill ensures that a judge's salary will not decrease if their county's population shifts to a lower classification during their elected term, and will increase if the county moves to a higher classification.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1734&ga=114