Tennessee 114th General Assembly Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

HB 2251 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16; Title 17 and Title 40, relative to criminal magistrates.

Last action — Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Bill Lee (Republican) on April 30, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill establishes a pilot project for criminal magistrates in high caseload counties.

The bill creates a pilot project to introduce criminal magistrates in ten Tennessee counties with the highest judicial caseloads. These magistrates will be appointed by the judges of the county's criminal courts.

Summary

Judges and Chancellors - 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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  3. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  4. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  5. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

  6. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  7. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  8. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  9. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  10. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  11. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/20/2026

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  14. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/21/2026

  17. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026

  18. Companion House Bill substituted

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1017

  21. Filed for introduction

  22. Intro., P1C.

  23. P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  24. Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  25. Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  26. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  27. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  28. Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  29. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  30. Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  31. Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  32. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  33. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  34. Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/7/2026

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

  36. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  37. H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/13/2026

  38. Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  39. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  40. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  41. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  42. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA1065)

  43. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 6

  44. H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1

  45. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/23/2026

  46. Lift tableing motion

  47. Motion to reconsider adopted. (Amendment 1 - SA1065)

  48. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1065)

  49. Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 5

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

  51. Signed by H. Speaker

  52. Signed by Senate Speaker

  53. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  54. Signed by Governor.

  55. Pub. Ch. 1017

  56. Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 132 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (132)

132 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 132 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2251 do?
Judges and Chancellors - 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.
Who sponsors HB 2251?
HB 2251 is sponsored by Grills, Rusty (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2251?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2251?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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