Senate Bill 2025, also known as House Bill 2251, proposes the establishment of a pilot project to introduce criminal magistrates in the ten counties of Tennessee with the highest judicial caseloads, as identified by the comptroller of the treasury. The administrative office of the courts is required to notify the legislative bodies of these counties by December 1, 2026. Once notified, the counties can create the position of criminal magistrate through an ordinance, and judges with criminal jurisdiction (excluding general sessions judges) will appoint the magistrate starting January 1, 2027.

The bill outlines the responsibilities of the criminal magistrate, which include conducting arraignments, initial appearance hearings, determining indigency status, accepting pleas for certain offenses, issuing warrants, conducting preliminary hearings, and reviewing collateral petitions for misdemeanors and specific felonies. The term for a criminal magistrate is set at four years, with the possibility of removal by a majority vote of the judges. Compensation for the magistrate will be drawn from the county's general fund, determined by the elected judges and approved by the legislative body.