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

SB2056 • 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
Taylor, Harris
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on how other parts of Tennessee law related to judicial districts will be affected.

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 this new court.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new part IX to the existing criminal courts in the thirtieth judicial district.
  • Requires the governor to appoint a person as the first judge of part IX until September 1, 2028.
  • Allows voters in the thirtieth judicial district to elect a successor for this judge at the August 2028 general election.
  • Establishes that after the initial appointment, future judges will be elected by voters for eight-year terms.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The governor of Tennessee
  • Voters in the thirtieth judicial district
  • People involved with criminal cases in the thirtieth judicial district

Terms To Know

Judicial District
A specific area where a court has authority to hear and decide legal matters.
General Election
An election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years, when voters choose federal and state officials.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much it will cost to run this new court.
  • It is unclear what specific changes will be made to other parts of Tennessee law related to judicial districts.

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 Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  4. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  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

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  16. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  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

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  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 
HOUSE BILL 2035
By Harris

SENATE BILL 2056
By Taylor
SB2056
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.