Back to Tennessee

HB2035 • 2026

Judicial Districts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16, Chapter 2, relative to the thirtieth judicial district.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Harris, Taylor
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the interim judge will be appointed, leaving this as an unknown point.

Creating an Additional Criminal Court in the Thirtieth Judicial District

This bill creates one additional criminal court in Tennessee's thirtieth judicial district and sets rules for appointing a judge to serve until August 2028, when voters will elect a permanent judge.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds an additional criminal court designated as part IX in the thirtieth judicial district starting September 1, 2026.
  • Requires the governor to appoint a person to serve as the judge of this new court until August 2028 or until their successor is elected and qualified.
  • Allows voters in the thirtieth judicial district to elect a permanent judge for part IX at the August 2028 general election.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved with criminal cases in the thirtieth judicial district of Tennessee.
  • The governor, who will appoint an interim judge.
  • Voters in the thirtieth judicial district, who will elect a permanent judge.

Terms To Know

Judicial District
A specific area where courts have authority to hear cases and make decisions.
Criminal Court
A court that deals with criminal offenses, such as theft or assault.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the new judge will be chosen for the interim period.
  • It is unclear what specific changes this will bring to the operations of the thirtieth judicial district.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  4. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  6. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  8. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  10. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026

  11. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  13. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  14. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  17. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  18. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  19. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  21. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  22. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2056
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 2035
By Harris
HB2035
011504
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16,
Chapter 2, relative to the thirtieth judicial district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-2-506(30), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(F) Effective September 1, 2026, there is created in the thirtieth judicial district
one (1) additional criminal court to be designated as part IX. The governor shall appoint
a person to serve as judge of part IX of the criminal court. The person so appointed
shall serve in that capacity until September 1, 2028, or until the person's successor is
elected and qualified. At the August 2028 general election, the qualified voters of the
thirtieth judicial district shall elect, in accordance with § 16-2-505, one (1) person to
serve as judge of part IX of the criminal court. The person so elected at the August 2028
general election shall hold office until September 1, 2030, or until the person's successor
is elected and qualified. Thereafter, the judge of part IX of the criminal court must be
elected for a full eight-year term.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-2-506, is amended by deleting
subdivision (30)(D).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.