STATE BILLTN HB 2251PASSED

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16; Title 17 and Title 40, relative to criminal magistrates.

As enacted, creates a pilot project to provide for criminal magistrates in the 10 counties in which the criminal courts experience the highest judicial caseload, if authorized by the legislative body of an eligible county; authorizes the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction to appoint the criminal magistrate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the majority of the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 17 and Title 40.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: May 26, 2026; 170 days ago
Current chamber: House of Representatives
Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session

TN HB 2251 · PassedMay 26

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Bill details

Last action: Effective date(s) 05/19/2026 · May 26, 2026

Sponsor

RGRusty GrillsRepresentative · Republican · HD-077Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

May 26, 2026Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

May 26, 2026Pub. Ch. 1017

May 19, 2026Signed by Governor.

May 7, 2026Transmitted to Governor for his action.House

May 5, 2026Signed by Senate SpeakerSenate

Apr 30, 2026Signed by H. SpeakerHouse

Apr 30, 2026Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.House

Apr 23, 2026Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 5Senate

Show 28 earlier actions

Apr 23, 2026Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1065)Senate

Apr 23, 2026Motion to reconsider adopted. (Amendment 1 - SA1065)Senate

Apr 23, 2026Lift tableing motionSenate

Apr 22, 2026Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/23/2026Senate

Apr 22, 2026H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1House

Apr 21, 2026Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 6Senate

Apr 21, 2026Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA1065)Senate

Apr 21, 2026Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Senate

Apr 14, 2026Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationSenate

Apr 13, 2026Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.House

Apr 13, 2026Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0House

Apr 9, 2026H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/13/2026House

Apr 8, 2026Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026House

Apr 7, 2026Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeHouse

Apr 1, 2026Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/7/2026House

Apr 1, 2026Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeHouse

Mar 25, 2026Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026House

Mar 25, 2026Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeHouse

Mar 25, 2026Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeHouse

Mar 18, 2026Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026House

Mar 18, 2026Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026House

Mar 11, 2026Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026House

Mar 11, 2026Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeHouse

Mar 4, 2026Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026House

Feb 5, 2026Assigned to s/c Civil Justice SubcommitteeHouse

Feb 5, 2026P2C, ref. to Judiciary CommitteeHouse

Feb 4, 2026Intro., P1C.House

Feb 2, 2026Filed for introductionHouse

Recorded votes

HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMar 11, 2026 · House · 7 yea · 0 nayPassed

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMar 25, 2026 · House · 17 yea · 0 nayPassed

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeApr 1, 2026 · House · 10 yea · 0 nayPassed

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeApr 7, 2026 · House · 28 yea · 0 nayPassed

FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATIONApr 13, 2026 · House · 94 yea · 0 nayPassed

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third ConsiderationApr 21, 2026 · Senate · 25 yea · 6 nayPassed

FLOOR VOTE: Third ConsiderationApr 23, 2026 · Senate · 28 yea · 5 nayPassed

Subjects

Judges and Chancellors

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