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SB1432 • 2026

Montgomery County

AN ACT to amend Chapter 232 of the Private Acts of 1953; as amended by Chapter 233 of the Private Acts of 1953; Chapter 164 of the Private Acts of 1955; Chapter 157 of the Private Acts of 1957; Chapter 276 of the Private Acts of 1961; Chapter 281 of the Private Acts of 1963; Chapter 12 of the Private Acts of 1967; Chapter 62 of the Private Acts of 1979 and Chapter 66 of the Private Acts of 1995; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the general sessions court of Montgomery County.

Children Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Powers
Last action
2025-03-04
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about amending the rotation schedule for presiding judges, only that it will be effective upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the county legislative body.

Montgomery County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Amendment

This bill proposes to create a fourth division of the General Sessions and Juvenile Courts in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new division (Division Four) to the existing General Sessions and Juvenile Courts in Montgomery County.
  • Establishes that this new division will have the same powers and jurisdiction as other divisions within the county.
  • Requires the appointment of a judge for Division Four by the county legislative body until an election is held in 2026.
  • Specifies that after the initial appointment, judges for Division Four will be elected every eight years starting from 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The county legislative body of Montgomery County
  • Residents and courts within Montgomery County

Terms To Know

General Sessions and Juvenile Courts
Courts that handle minor criminal cases, traffic violations, and juvenile matters.
Private Acts
Laws specific to a particular county or municipality in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill will not take effect unless it is approved by at least two-thirds of the Montgomery County legislative body.
  • It requires local approval before any changes can be implemented.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill

  4. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 1432
By Powers

SB1432
001183
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Chapter 232 of the Private Acts of
1953; as amended by Chapter 233 of the Private Acts of
1953; Chapter 164 of the Private Acts of 1955; Chapter
157 of the Private Acts of 1957; Chapter 276 of the
Private Acts of 1961; Chapter 281 of the Private Acts of
1963; Chapter 12 of the Private Acts of 1967; Chapter 62
of the Private Acts of 1979 and Chapter 66 of the Private
Acts of 1995; and any other acts amendatory thereto,
relative to the general sessions court of Montgomery
County.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Chapter 232 of the Private Acts of 1953, as amended by Chapter 164 of
the Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 157 of the Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 276 of the Private
Acts of 1961, Chapter 281 of the Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 12 of the Private Acts of 1967,
Chapter 62 of the Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 66 of the Private Acts of 1995, and all other
acts amendatory thereto, is amended to create a fourth division of the General Sessions and
Juvenile Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee. The said fourth division shall have the
same terms of court and the same jurisdiction and powers as are now exercised by the General
Sessions and Juvenile Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee.
SECTION 2. Be it further enacted that the office of the fourth General Sessions and
Juvenile Courts Judge is hereby created, which shall be filled by an appointee hereinafter to be
named until the election of the Judge to fill such office as hereinafter provided, and the said
fourth General Sessions and Juvenile Courts Judge to be so appointed or selected and his or
her successors in office shall sit and hold Court regularly in Division Four thereof.
SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, that the county legislative body of Montgomery
County shall appoint a person qualified under the law to fulfill the office hereby created of the
General Sessions and Juvenile Courts Judge of Division Four, who shall hold office until
September 1, 2026, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. At the regular
August election in 2026, a person qualified under the law shall be elected to serve until

- 2 - 001183

September 1, 2028, or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. At the regular August
election in 2028, a person qualified under the law shall be elected for a term of eight (8) years
until his or her successor is elected and qualified. At each succeeding judicial election
thereafter a judge for Division Four shall be elected for eight-year terms.
SECTION 4. Be it further enacted that the Judge of the Fourth Division of the General
Sessions and Juvenile Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee, shall have the same
qualifications and exercise the same powers and jurisdiction and receive the same
compensation as do other General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judges of Montgomery County,
Tennessee.
SECTION 5. Be it further enacted that the County Commission of Montgomery County,
Tennessee, shall furnish the necessary supplies and furnishings for the Fourth Division, and
shall furnish a suitable and separate courtroom, and the Sheriff of the County shall in person or
by deputy attend the Fourth Division when it is in session.
SECTION 6. Be it further enacted, that the office, powers, and duties and
responsibilities of the Clerk of the General Sessions and Juvenile Courts shall be enlarged to
include the work of Division Four, and the Clerk of his or her deputy shall attend Division Four
when it is in session.
SECTION 7. Chapter 66 of the Private Acts of 1995, and all other acts amendatory
thereto, is amended by deleting from Section 7 the following language:
and the position of presiding judge shall rotate between the judge of Division One of the
General Sessions and Juvenile Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee, Division Two
and Division Three every three years.
and substituting:
and the position of presiding judge shall rotate between the judge of Division One,
Division Two, Division Three, and Division Four of the General Sessions and Juvenile
Courts of Montgomery County, Tennessee, every four (4) years.

- 3 - 001183

SECTION 8. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the county legislative body of Montgomery County. Its approval or non-approval shall be
proclaimed by the presiding officer of the county legislative body and certified to the Secretary of
State.
SECTION 9. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall
be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes it shall
become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 8.