STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2427

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2571

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2571 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURY DUTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the United States Constitution and Hawaii State Constitution guarantee the right to a trial by an impartial jury drawn from a representative cross-section of the community. However, that right is undermined by economic realities that exclude working people, low-income individuals, caregivers, and hourly wage earners from serving. When juror compensation fails to keep pace with the real costs of participation, such as lost wages, transportation, or childcare, jury service can become a financial hardship rather than a shared civic responsibility. Your Committee further finds that juror compensation has not increased since 1989, when it was increased from $20 to $30 per day. Your Committee additionally finds that jurors who serve in federal jury trials in the United States District Court of Hawaii receive $50 per day. This measure will help to ensure a diverse jury pool by allowing people from varying socioeconomic backgrounds to participate in the judicial system without undue hardship while also acknowledging the sacrifice the State's citizenry makes when performing this important civic function.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that although this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount, should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it considers inserting an appropriation amount of $684,385 to increase the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2571, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2571, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair