H 7583Civil Procedure

Courts and Civil Procedure - Procedure Generally - Fees

This bill raises the daily pay for Superior Court jurors from $25 to $50 starting July 1, 2026.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 6, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation increases the daily compensation for individuals serving as grand or petit jurors in the Rhode Island Superior Court. Currently, jurors receive $25.00 per day for their service. Under this bill, that rate will increase to $50.00 per day, effective July 1, 2026. The bill retains the existing provision that allows jurors to voluntarily donate their fee to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center. The General Assembly is required to appropriate the necessary funds annually to cover these increased costs.

For younger readers

When adults are chosen to help a court decide if someone followed the law, it is called jury duty. Right now, the government pays these helpers $25 for every day they spend at the court. This new rule says that starting in the summer of 2026, the government will pay them $50 a day instead. It is like a small raise for doing an important job for the community. People who serve on a jury can still choose to give that money to help veterans who need a home if they want to.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Grand and Petit JurorsRhode Island Superior CourtRhode Island Veterans Home Community Living CenterTaxpayersState Budget Officers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Reduces the financial burden on low-income individuals summoned for jury duty, making it slightly more feasible for working-class citizens to participate in the justice system.
Promotes a more economically diverse jury pool by mitigating the financial loss associated with missing work, which helps ensure juries are truly representative of the community.
Acknowledges the value of civic labor by doubling the compensation rate, moving away from a token amount toward slightly better recognition of the time committed by citizens.
The increase to $50 per day is still significantly below the minimum wage and does not constitute a living wage for a full day of service, leaving many workers still financially strained.
Delays the implementation of the pay increase until July 2026, meaning citizens facing economic hardship today will not see any immediate benefit.
Fails to address other critical barriers to jury service for marginalized groups, such as the lack of reimbursement for childcare, transportation, or parking costs.

For Conservatives

Strengthens the judicial system and the rule of law by providing a modest incentive for citizens to fulfill their jury duty obligations.
Preserves the option for jurors to voluntarily donate their fees to the Rhode Island Veterans Home, continuing to support those who served the nation.
Increases compensation through a fixed state appropriation rather than placing a new financial mandate on private business owners to pay employees while they are on jury duty.
Increases state government spending by doubling the budget allocation required for juror fees, adding to the burden on taxpayers.
Moves away from the concept of jury duty as a selfless civic volunteerism by focusing on monetary compensation.
Creates a future financial obligation for the state budget that will not take effect for several years, committing future legislatures to this spending.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions · 2 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 9-29-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-29 entitled "Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 9-29-5. Jurors’ fees.

(a) All grand and petit jurors shall be paid for each day’s attendance on the superior court ~~twenty-five dollars ($25.00)~~ fifty dollars ($50.00) per day commencing July 1, ~~2022~~ 2026, and thereafter. The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sum as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(b) Any grand or petit juror may, upon signing a form approved by the presiding justice of the superior court, donate their jury fee to the state. Any such donation shall be deposited into the general fund and shall be allocated to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.