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HD 2529

An Act relative to jury duty parking fees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Kushmerek

HD 2529: Reimburse jurors' parking costs up to $50 per day, paid by the district court, to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for serving on jury duty.

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Bill Summary · HD 2529

Summary: HD 2529 — An Act relative to jury duty parking fees

Bill at a glance

  • Bill number: HD 2529
  • Title: An Act relative to jury duty parking fees
  • Introduced: January 16, 2025 (House Docket No. 2529; accompanying petition by Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek)
  • Status: Not specified in the provided excerpt
  • Classification: Proposed bill in the Massachusetts General Court (2025-2026)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to reduce the financial burden on individuals serving on juries by ensuring reimbursement of parking fees incurred while performing jury duty. The core idea is to provide jurors with up to a $50 per day reimbursement for parking costs, funded by the district court.

Key provisions

  • Adds new subsection to the General Laws: Section 27A of chapter 218 (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) with the following language:
    • Subsection -j): Citizens summoned for jury sessions shall have parking fees, not to exceed $50 per day, reimbursed by the district court.
  • The reimbursement is explicitly limited to a per-day cap of $50.
  • Reimbursement responsibility falls on the district court.

Who is affected

  • Individuals summoned for jury sessions (jurors): Eligible for parking fee reimbursement when they incur parking costs.
  • District court operations: Responsible for processing and paying the reimbursements.
  • Massachusetts judiciary budget and administrative offices: Potentially affected due to a change in jury service cost obligations.

Financial and administrative impact

  • Fiscal effect: The district court would incur reimbursements for jurors’ parking, up to $50 per day. The total cost to the court would depend on the number of jurors summoned, the duration of their service, and how many days parking is required.
  • Administrative impact: Courts would need to implement or adjust processes to verify parking expenses and deliver reimbursements, including documentation and payment workflows.

Timelines and procedural notes

  • The bill text indicates introduction and filing in early 2025 (House Docket No. 2529, filed January 16, 2025) under the Judiciary committee. The provided excerpt does not include a timetable for implementation or a specified effective date if enacted.
  • As a proposed bill, it would need to advance through committee review, potential amendments, and both chambers before any enactment, followed by signature by the Governor.

Additional context

  • The provision sets a clear financial ceiling ($50/day) but does not specify required documentation, payment cadence (e.g., daily vs. per-claim), or exceptions (e.g., multiple vehicles, short parking durations).
  • The bill aligns with efforts to reduce participation costs for civic duties and may improve juror participation and diversity by mitigating out-of-pocket expenses.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current law (if exists) or outline potential fiscal impact scenarios based on hypothetical juror volumes.

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

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