TN HB1964

Establishes a new five-class county classification system effective September 1, 2030, based on population thresholds (Class 1: over 49,000; Class 2: 38,000-49,000; Class 3: 30,000-38,000; Class 4: 15,000-30,000; Class 5: 15,000 or less) for determining general sessions and juvenile judge compensation.

Sets judge salaries as percentages of circuit judge pay, ranging from 100% in Class 1 counties to 60-65% in Class 5 counties, with higher pay for judges exercising concurrent juvenile jurisdiction.

Requires general sessions judges in Class 1-3 counties to work full-time and prohibits them from practicing law, while Class 4-5 judges are part-time and may practice law unless a two-thirds county legislative body vote requires full-time service.

Exempts 16 named counties (including Shelby, Davidson, Hamilton, and Knox) from the new compensation structure, allowing them to continue setting salaries through existing private acts.

Imposes a new county litigation privilege tax of $1-$5 per case (varying by county class) on civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic cases to fund judge compensation, beginning July 1, 2031.