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.

SB 1734 reorganizes Tennessee counties into five population-based classes (instead of seven) to determine salaries for general sessions and juvenile judges, effective September 1, 2030. It establishes a new county litigation tax on each civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic case filed in these courts to fund judge salaries, with salary levels tied to county size. Judges in counties with populations over 30,000 (Classes 1-3) must work full-time without outside employment, while judges in smaller counties (Classes 4-5) may work part-time with some restrictions. The bill also includes rules for consolidated courts and ensures judges' salaries remain stable if a county's population class changes after election.