Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
....~~.w.~.
//~_.... -y._vr
--~.',1/~,~
: 0/,,Ull,.a~•.
:: !~;\:/A~,-.'E( )\,-!,~l::
-;.....::.:::-:..0:-: -
$tate of ~ennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 487
HOUSE BILL NO. 490
By Representatives Helton-Haynes, Vital, Greg Martin, Hakeem, Reneau
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 255
By Senators Gardenhire, Hatcher, Watson
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.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16, Chapter 18, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another provision of law, constitutional provision, or judicial
interpretation thereof, a municipal judge who was duly elected or appointed to office prior
to March 7, 2025, and who is qualified for such office under the laws and interpretations
in effect at the time of such election or appointment, shall not be disqualified or removed
from office due to a residency requirement during the term of office to which the
municipal judge was elected or appointed.
(b) Any municipal judge described in subsection (a) shall be deemed a de facto
officer whose acts, judgments, and decisions are valid and binding during the completion
of the municipal judge's term.
(c) The residency requirements established by the Tennessee supreme court in
McNabb v. Harrison, decided March 7, 2025, shall apply prospectively and shall be
enforced beginning with the next regularly scheduled election for any affected municipal
judgeship after the effective date of this act.
(d) This section does not exempt municipal judges from any qualification or
eligibility requirement other than the residency requirement addressed in the McNabb v.
Harrison decision.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
HOUSE BILL NO. 490
PASSED: April 17, 2025
CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RANDY MCNAILy
SPEAKER OF THE SEN TE
APPROVED this 2J 'S'° day of rfb.,.'d,. 2025
~l,~~
BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.