This bill proposes the addition of a second judgeship to the Seventeenth District of the State District Court System, which encompasses Clay and Greene counties. The current law is amended to reflect that the Seventeenth District will now be served by two state district court judges instead of one. The judges will be elected districtwide, and the bill outlines the jurisdiction and departmental structure of the court, which includes five departments located in Paragould, Marmaduke, Corning, Piggott, and Rector.

Furthermore, the bill specifies the funding structure for the new judgeship's salary and benefits. It states that the state will cover the salary, with costs shared among the City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County. The City of Paragould and Greene County will each pay half of 75% of the salary and benefits, while Clay County will cover 25%. The new judgeship is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and will be included on the ballot for election during the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election.

Statutes affected:
HB 1978: 16-17-1113(i)