County Government - As introduced, authorizes a county to forgo the automatic compensation increase for county officers if the department of economic and community development determines that the county experienced substantial characteristics of economic distress in the preceding fiscal year. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 24.

HB 808 allows Tennessee counties experiencing significant economic hardship to opt out of automatic pay raises for county officials. If the Department of Economic and Community Development determines a county faced high unemployment, low income, or widespread poverty in the prior year, the county’s legislative body can pass a resolution to forgo the standard compensation increase. Officials in such counties would then receive a higher minimum pay level when the economic distress ends (per DECD’s annual review) or after the next county election. This bill directly affects county governments and their elected officials, modifying how automatic pay adjustments apply during economic downturns.