PRIA Logo™
TennesseeHB 1419114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Chapter 232 of the Private Acts of 1953; as amended by Chapter 233 of the Private Acts of 1953; Chapter 164 of the Private Acts of 1955; Chapter 157 of the Private Acts of 1957; Chapter 276 of the Private Acts of 1961; Chapter 281 of the Private Acts of 1963; Chapter 12 of the Private Acts of 1967; Chapter 62 of the Private Acts of 1979 and Chapter 66 of the Private Acts of 1995; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the general sessions court of Montgomery County.

Sponsored By: Michael Lankford (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Montgomery County

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Fifth court division and judge added

The law creates a Fifth Division of the Montgomery County General Sessions and Juvenile Courts. It also creates a new judge for Division Five. The judge has the same powers, jurisdiction, qualifications, and pay as the other county judges. The new division adds court capacity for local residents. These changes apply in the county after a two-thirds vote and certification as the law requires.

How the new judge is chosen

The county legislative body appoints a qualified person to the new Division Five judgeship. The appointee serves until September 1, 2026, and until a successor is elected and qualified. Voters elect a judge at the August 2026 election to serve until September 1, 2030. At the August 2030 election, voters choose a judge for an eight-year term, and future terms are eight years.

County approval required for changes

The law takes effect in Montgomery County only if the county legislative body approves it by a two-thirds vote. The presiding officer must announce the result and certify it to the Tennessee Secretary of State. For the approval vote itself, the act is effective when it becomes law; all other parts start only after county approval. This local vote ensures consent but can delay or block the new division.

New courtroom, staff, and judge rotation

The County Commission must provide a separate courtroom, supplies, and furnishings for Division Five. The Sheriff must attend Division Five when it is in session, in person or by deputy. The court Clerk’s office now handles Division Five work, and the Clerk or a deputy must attend its sessions. The presiding judge now rotates among Divisions One through Five every five years, replacing the old three-year, three-division rotation. These duties may cost the county money and change court administration.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michael Lankford

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Ronnie Glynn

    Democrat • House

  • Aron Maberry

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/17/2025

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 94 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 19 • No: 0

House vote • 3/17/2025

HOUSE PRIVATE ACTS COMMITTEE

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pr. Ch. 14

    6/4/2025

  2. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2025

  3. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/9/2025House

  4. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/8/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

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

    4/23/2025House

  7. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

    4/17/2025Senate

  9. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/15/2025Senate

  10. Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 1

    4/14/2025House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/14/2025House

  12. H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/14/2025

    4/10/2025House

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

    4/9/2025House

  14. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    4/8/2025House

  15. Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

    4/2/2025House

  16. Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

    4/2/2025House

  17. Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

    3/26/2025House

  18. Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

    3/26/2025House

  19. Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025House

  20. Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee

    3/17/2025House

  21. Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/17/2025

    3/12/2025House

  22. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/12/2025House

  23. P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee

    3/10/2025House

  24. Intro., P1C.

    3/6/2025House

  25. Filed for introduction

    3/4/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation