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SB 1734

Courts - As introduced, effective September 1, 2030, divides counties into five, instead of seven, different classes by population for the purpose of determining the compensation of general sessions and juvenile judges; revises provisions setting minimum salary requirements for general sessions and juvenile judges; establishes a county litigation tax on each civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic case initiated in a general sessions or juvenile court to defray general sessions and juvenile judges' salaries; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 15, Part 50.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee bill reclassifies counties into five tiers and institutes a per-case litigation tax to fund general sessions and juvenile judge salaries, effective 2030.

Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
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Bill Summary · SB 1734

Legislative bill overview

SB 1734 restructures how Tennessee counties are classified for judicial compensation purposes, reducing the classification system from seven to five tiers based on population. It revises minimum salary requirements for general sessions and juvenile judges and creates a new county litigation tax on civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic cases to fund these judge salaries.

Why is this important

Judge compensation directly affects the quality and stability of the judicial system. The bill addresses potential judge recruitment and retention challenges by adjusting salary structures and creating a dedicated funding mechanism. The litigation tax represents a shift in how court operations are financed, potentially affecting litigants and court accessibility.

Potential points of contention

  • Litigation tax burden: The new per-case tax may increase costs for individuals and small businesses accessing courts, raising concerns about access to justice and disproportionate impact on lower-income litigants
  • Funding equity: Restructuring into five instead of seven classes may create disparities in judicial resources across counties of different sizes, potentially disadvantaging smaller or mid-sized counties
  • Cost uncertainty: The bill's long-term fiscal impact is unclear—how much the litigation tax will be and whether it will adequately or excessively fund judge salaries remains undefined

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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