KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB0982 • 2026

Courts, General Sessions

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13; Title 16 and Title 29, relative to general sessions courts.

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Miller, Kyle
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how this change will impact different types of civil cases or whether it will lead to an increase in court caseloads.

Increasing Jurisdictional Limit for General Sessions Courts

This bill raises the limit on how much money general sessions courts can handle in civil cases from $25,000 to $50,000.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of money that general sessions courts can deal with in civil cases from $25,000 to $50,000.
  • Updates Tennessee's laws about court limits for civil cases.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have civil cases in general sessions courts.
  • Courts that handle civil cases with amounts up to $50,000.

Terms To Know

General Sessions Courts
Courts that deal with small claims and minor criminal cases.
Civil Cases
Cases where people or businesses sue each other for money or to stop someone from doing something.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the change will affect specific types of civil cases.
  • It is unclear if this change will lead to more cases being heard in general sessions courts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  3. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to Special Calendar on 3/18/2026

  4. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 1/21/2026

  5. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026

  6. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  7. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

  10. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  11. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  12. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  13. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  14. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  15. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  16. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  17. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  18. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  19. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  20. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 572
By Kyle

HOUSE BILL 982
By Miller

HB0982
001194
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13;
Title 16 and Title 29, relative to general sessions
courts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-15-501(d)(1), is amended by
deleting "twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)" and substituting "fifty thousand dollars
($50,000)".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.