Courts - As introduced, effective September 1, 2030, divides counties into five, instead of seven, different classes by population for the purpose of determining the compensation of general sessions and juvenile judges; revises provisions setting minimum salary requirements for general sessions and juvenile judges; establishes a county litigation tax on each civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic case initiated in a general sessions or juvenile court to defray general sessions and juvenile judges' salaries; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 15, Part 50.

HB 1964 reclassifies Tennessee counties into five population-based classes (from over 49,000 residents down to 15,000 or less) to determine salaries for general sessions and juvenile judges starting September 1, 2030. It establishes new minimum salary requirements for these judges and creates a county litigation tax on civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic cases to fund the salaries. The bill ensures judges' salaries won't decrease if a county's population drops after election, but can increase if population rises. This affects all Tennessee counties and their judicial systems through the new funding mechanism and classification rules.