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HB 982

Courts, General Sessions - As introduced, increases from $25,000 to $50,000 the jurisdictional dollar limit for general sessions courts in civil cases generally. - Amends TCA Title 13; Title 16 and Title 29.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Larry Miller

Tennessee doubles civil jurisdiction limit for general sessions courts from $25,000 to $50,000, allowing these lower courts to handle more disputes and potentially reducing higher court backlogs.

Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
#courts #generalsessions
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Bill Summary · HB 982

Legislative bill overview

HB 982 doubles the monetary jurisdiction limit for Tennessee's general sessions courts from $25,000 to $50,000 in civil cases. This change would allow these lower-level courts to handle more disputes without requiring plaintiffs to file in higher courts, potentially streamlining the civil justice system for mid-range monetary claims.

Why is this important

General sessions courts are typically the first point of entry for civil disputes and are designed to be more accessible and efficient than higher courts. Raising the jurisdictional cap could reduce case backlogs in circuit courts, lower litigation costs for parties, and provide faster resolution for disputes in the $25,000-$50,000 range—a significant portion of small business and consumer claims.

Potential points of contention

  • Court capacity concerns: General sessions courts may lack the resources, staffing, or infrastructure to handle substantially more cases, potentially creating new backlogs rather than reducing them
  • Defendant protection: Defendants might argue that less formal general sessions proceedings are inappropriate for higher-value disputes, potentially affecting due process or the quality of judicial review
  • Revenue implications: Higher courts and court systems could face reduced filing fees and budget impacts if cases are diverted to general sessions courts

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

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