AN ACT CONCERNING JUROR COMPENSATION.

2025 Regular Session

HB 6968 would overhaul juror compensation, raising per diem and reimbursements to cover travel and expenses, reducing jurors' out-of-pocket costs and affecting employers and state costs.

REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations

#compensation #judicialdepartment #jurors

Main purpose and intent

HB 6968, titled "An Act Concerning Juror Compensation," is legislation introduced to change how jurors are paid and/or reimbursed for service. The bill’s stated intent (by title and referral history) is to address juror compensation—likely to update rates, adjust payment practices, expand reimbursable expenses, or otherwise make serving on a jury more financially feasible.

Note: The legislative text and fiscal note were not provided. This summary is based on the bill title and procedural record; specific statutory changes, dollar amounts, effective dates or eligibility rules must be confirmed by consulting the bill text and Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) materials.

Key provisions (typical issues addressed by juror-compensation bills)

Because the bill text is not included, the following are the types of provisions commonly found in juror compensation legislation that HB 6968 is likely to address:

Increase to the per diem payment jurors receive for each day of service (or adjustment for first day vs. subsequent days).

Reimbursement for travel, parking, meals, or lodging when service requires significant travel.

Payroll treatment—clarification on whether jurors employed by private or public employers receive make-whole provisions or can obtain paid leave.

Reimbursement to employers (small business or municipal reimbursements) for wages paid to employees serving as jurors.

Administrative changes to how payments are requested, verified, and distributed (e.g., electronic payments, timelines).

Effective date and whether changes are prospective or include a retroactive component.

Who would be affected

Prospective and current jurors in state courts (impacts juror out-of-pocket costs, net income while serving).

Employers (private, municipal, and state) who may experience payroll or reimbursement implications.

Judicial branch administrative offices responsible for processing juror payments.

State budget/treasury—any increases in juror pay or reimbursements would have fiscal implications.

Fiscal and procedural aspects

Introduced: February 13, 2025

Referred to Judiciary Committee: Feb 13, 2025

Public hearing: Feb 26, 2025

Joint Favorable Substitute reported: Apr 4, 2025

Filed with LCO: Apr 7, 2025

Referred to Office of Legislative Research & OFA: Apr 11–16, 2025

Favorable report and placed on House calendar: Apr 17, 2025 (House Calendar No. 464; File No. 729)

Referred by House to Appropriations Committee: Apr 29, 2025

Current status: Under review by the House Appropriations Committee

Because juror compensation changes affect state expenditures, the Appropriations Committee review and a fiscal note from OFA will be key to understanding budgetary impact.

Next steps / recommended actions

Review the bill text (LCO) to see specific payment rates, effective dates, and eligibility rules.

Obtain the OFA fiscal note for estimated budget impact.

Read the Joint Favorable Substitute and committee report to learn any amendments.

Track action in the Appropriations Committee and any floor debates or amendments.

If you’d like, I can retrieve and summarize the bill’s actual text and OFA fiscal note (if available) to provide precise details on payment amounts, implementation, and budget impact.

Bill