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TennesseeHB 0490114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 24; Title 25; Title 26; Title 27; Title 28 and Title 29, relative to courts.

Sponsored By: Esther Helton-Haynes (Republican)

Became Law

Courts

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Current municipal judges keep seats

Municipal judges who were elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, and were qualified then, cannot be removed midterm only for a residency rule. They must still meet all other qualification and eligibility rules. These judges are treated as de facto officers, so their acts, judgments, and orders remain valid through the end of their term. The Tennessee Supreme Court’s March 7, 2025 residency rule (McNabb v. Harrison) applies at the next regular election for that judgeship after this law takes effect, not during the current term.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Esther Helton-Haynes

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Yusuf Hakeem

    Democrat • House

  • Brock Martin

    Republican • House

  • Michele Reneau

    Republican • House

  • Greg Vital

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 154 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

Haynes - FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/17/2025

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

Haynes - FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

Haynes - HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

Haynes - HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2025

Haynes - HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 487

    5/27/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/21/2025

    5/27/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/9/2025House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/8/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/23/2025House

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/17/2025Senate

  9. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0391)

    4/17/2025Senate

  10. Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

    4/17/2025Senate

  11. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/16/2025Senate

  12. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0325)

    4/15/2025House

  13. Passed H., as am., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/15/2025House

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/15/2025House

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/10/2025House

  16. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025

    4/10/2025House

  17. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025

    4/9/2025House

  18. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

    4/8/2025House

  19. Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

    4/2/2025House

  20. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/9/2025

    4/2/2025House

  21. Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025

    3/26/2025House

  22. Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

    3/26/2025House

  23. Ref. to Judiciary Committee

    3/24/2025House

  24. Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

    3/24/2025House

  25. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • HA0325 (Substitute)

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0391

    PDF

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