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HB 7583

AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matthew Dawson

HB 7583 increases juror pay to $50 per day starting in 2026 and allows voluntary donations of juror fees to support the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center.

04/29/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7583

Summary of HB 7583 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Fees Related to Jurors

Overview

  • Bill: HB 7583
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Committee: House Finance (Referred from the House, status as of action history: held for further study)
  • Introduced: February 6, 2026 by Rep. Matthew S. Dawson (sponsor)
  • Purpose: Increase daily juror fees and designate a portion of juror fee donations to a specific state facility.

Key Provisions

Section 1: Jurors’ Fees (9-29-5)

  • Current/Proposed Change: The bill amends the statutory provision governing jurors’ fees.
  • Daily Juror Payment:
    • New rate: $50 per day for both grand and petit jurors.
    • Effective date: July 1, 2022 → 2026, and thereafter. This language effectively codifies the increase to take effect in 2026 and continue annually.
  • Funding Authority: The General Assembly would annually appropriate the necessary funds to carry out the purposes of juror payments.
  • Donation Option (Subsection b):
    • Jurors may donate their daily juror fee by signing a form approved by the presiding justice of the superior court.
    • Donations would be deposited into Rhode Island’s general fund.
    • Donated funds would be allocated to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center.

Section 2: Effective Date

  • Effective upon passage of the act.

Purpose and Intent

  • Main aim: Increase juror compensation to $50 per day to better reflect costs and provide greater incentive for service.
  • Secondary goal: Create a mechanism for jurors who wish to contribute their fees to support a state veterans facility, directing donations to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center via the general fund.

Who/What is Affected

Directly Affected

  • Grand and Petit Jurors: Eligible for an increased daily fee of $50 for days served in the Superior Court, replacing the prior amount (not specified in the text, but the bill sets the new rate at $50).
  • Rhode Island Judicial Administration: Responsible for implementing the fee increase and managing eligible funding, as well as approving donation forms and processing donations to the general fund.

Indirectly Affected

  • Rhode Island General Fund: Receives annual appropriations to support juror payments.
  • Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center: Potentially receives donor-provided funds from juror donations.
  • State Employees/Judicial System Budgets: May experience changes in annual budgeting due to adjusted juror payment obligations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction Date: February 6, 2026
  • Referral: House Finance
  • Legislative Action: As of the latest action, the measure was recommended to be held for further study (April 29, 2026), with a prior hearing/consideration scheduled for April 24, 2026.
  • Effective Date: Upon passage (retroactively codified to apply to July 1, 2022, but the bill specifies “ commencing July 1, 2022 2026, and thereafter,” effectively making the increased rate operative from 2026 onward).

Status and Notes

  • The bill would codify a rate increase for juror compensation and introduce a voluntary donation mechanism to support a state veterans facility. It is currently in committee, with a recommendation to hold for further study, indicating not yet enacted into law.

Summary in One Line

HB 7583 proposes raising juror pay to $50 per day for grand and petit jurors beginning in 2026 and allowing jurors to donate their fees to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center, with donations deposited to the general fund; the act becomes effective upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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