Senate Bill 1734 amends the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding the compensation and duties of general sessions and juvenile judges. The bill establishes a framework for determining judges' salaries based on county population classifications, effective September 1, 2030. It introduces new subsections that outline how counties will be categorized into five classes based on their populations, which will affect judges' compensation. Additionally, the bill specifies that judges in Class 1, 2, and 3 counties must work full-time and cannot engage in the practice of law, while those in Class 4 and 5 counties are considered part-time and may practice law unless it creates a conflict of interest.

The bill also includes provisions for the adjustment of judges' salaries and compensation, ensuring that judges' salaries cannot be decreased if their county moves to a lower classification after their election. It mandates that judges certify their compensation details to the administrative office of the courts by June 30, 2030, to establish a baseline for future salary adjustments. Furthermore, it introduces a county privilege tax on litigation to help fund judges' compensation, with varying amounts based on the county class. The bill's provisions regarding compensation and classifications will be deleted on September 1, 2030, and replaced with new regulations that will take effect on that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-15-5001, 16-15-5002, 16-15-5003