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Bill Summary · HB 440

Bill at a glance

HB 440 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) amends provisions related to juror pay and local government authority to support the court system. The bill focuses on increasing juror compensation and clarifying local government’s ability to fund or supplement court-related costs.

Purpose and intent

  • To modify how jurors are compensated for service in Circuit and District Courts.
  • To reaffirm and clarify local governments’ authority to provide financial support to the court system and Commonwealth’s attorneys offices serving their localities, including the ability to supplement state funding.

Key provisions

Section 1 — Juror compensation (KRS 29A.170)

  • Increases and clarifies daily juror pay:
    • Base daily pay for jury service: $15 per day (replacing prior $5? The bill text shows a bracketed and [$15], indicating a potential adjustment; the final enacted amount is $15 per day for jury service).
    • Additional daily amount for overnight/sequestered jurors: $15 per day for days they are kept overnight or sequestered when ordered by the judge.
    • Daily reimbursement for juror expenses: $7.50 per day (to cover minimum daily expenses reasonably incurred). This is described as the equivalent to minimum daily expenses.
  • Compensation for summoned individuals who appear but are not relieved from jury service:
    • Such persons receive full compensation for each day they are required to attend, even if they are not sworn or accepted as jurors.

Section 2 — Local government funding authority (KRS 32.011)

  • Local governments (cities, counties, charter counties, consolidated/local governments, unified local governments, and urban-county governments) are not restricted by the specified KRS 32.011–32.070 provisions from providing or supplementing financial support for the court system and the offices of the Commonwealth’s attorneys serving their locale.
  • Local entities are explicitly authorized to supplement state funding for the court system and Commonwealth’s attorneys offices under the outlined statutes.

Who is affected

  • Jurors in Kentucky Circuit and District Courts:
    • Eligible for higher per-day pay, overnight/sequestered pay, and daily expense reimbursement.
    • Those who appear for jury duty and are not released from service still receive compensation for attendance.
  • Local governments:
    • Authorized to provide additional funding to support court operations and prosecutors serving their jurisdiction, beyond what the state provides.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective as of the bill’s enactment date (not specified in the excerpt, but commonly upon passage or a specified effective date within the final act).
  • The action history shows committee referrals and introduction in January 2026, with movement to Judiciary Committee.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Financial impact on juror compensation:
    • Increases in daily pay and sequestered-days pay could raise state expenditures for juror remuneration.
    • The expense reimbursement cap provides clearer baseline for juror costs.
  • Local government funding flexibility:
    • Counties and other local governments gain clearer authority to fund court-related operations, potentially reducing reliance on state funds or enabling enhanced local services.
  • Access to justice:
    • Higher juror compensation and clearer compensation for all attendees may improve juror participation and reduce hardship for those serving.

If you’d like, I can attach specific line-item implications or compare these changes to current Kentucky law references for a deeper, bill-by-bill analysis.

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

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