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HB1355

An Act To Amend The Law Concerning Jury Service; To Provide An Exemption From Jury Service For Persons Seventy (70) Years Of Age And Older; And To Create Lyna Gayle's Law.

Failed

Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in the House at Sine Die Adjournment

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AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1355, also known as 'Lyna Gayle's Law', amends Arkansas code regarding jury service exemptions. The bill lowers the age at which a citizen may voluntarily exempt themselves from jury duty from eighty years of age to seventy years of age. Under this legislation, any individual seventy years of age or older is granted the legal option to decline participation in jury service at any time. The primary objective is to adjust the existing age threshold for automatic jury service eligibility based on age. The bill was sponsored by Representative Beaty Jr. and Senator Gilmore.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries of this bill are individuals in Arkansas who are seventy years of age or older, as they gain the legal right to opt out of jury duty. This provides them with increased flexibility and relief from the potential burden of participating in the judicial system if they prefer not to serve.

Who Might Suffer?

The primary entities potentially negatively impacted by this bill are the court systems and the State of Arkansas. By expanding the pool of individuals who can voluntarily decline service, the courts may face a reduction in the number of available jurors, which could potentially impact the ease of empaneling juries and increase the administrative burden on court clerks to summon additional citizens to maintain quorum requirements.

Vote Records

Third Reading

Feb. 16, 2023
Yea: 39 Nay: 40 NV: 21 Absent: 0 Failed
View individual votes (100)
Legislator Party Chamber Vote
Fred Allen Democrat House Nay
Lane Jean Republican House NV
Stephen Meeks Republican House NV
Mark Perry Democrat House Nay
Jon Eubanks Republican House Nay
Matthew Shepherd Republican House NV
Jeff Wardlaw Republican House Yea
Bruce Cozart Republican House Nay
David Whitaker Democrat House Nay
Deborah Ferguson Democrat House Nay
Charlene Fite Republican House Nay
Mike Holcomb Republican House NV
Stephen Magie Democrat House Nay
Mark McElroy Republican House NV
Josh Miller Republican House Yea
Richard Womack Republican House NV
Jack Ladyman Republican House NV
Robin Lundstrum Republican House Nay
Dwight Tosh Republican House Yea
Lanny Fite Republican House Nay
Grant Hodges Republican House Yea
Rick Beck Republican House Yea
Mary Bentley Republican House Yea
Les Eaves Republican House Yea
Justin Gonzales Republican House Nay
Julie Mayberry Republican House Nay
Ken Ferguson Democrat House NV
Ron Mcnair Republican House Nay
Milton Nicks Democrat House NV
Marcus Richmond Republican House Yea
Vivian Flowers Democrat House Yea
Deann Vaught Republican House Yea
Karilyn Brown Republican House Yea
Sonia Eubanks Barker Republican House NV
Frances Cavenaugh Republican House Nay
Jack Fortner Republican House Yea
Jimmie Gazaway Republican House Nay
Roger Lynch Republican House Yea
John Maddox Republican House NV
Aaron Pilkington Republican House NV
Johnny Rye Republican House Yea
Les Warren Republican House Nay
Danny Watson Republican House NV
Carlton Wing Republican House NV
Austin Mccollum Republican House Yea
Carol Dalby Republican House Nay
Steve Hollowell Republican House Yea
Brian Evans Republican House Yea
Lee Johnson Republican House Yea
Andrew Collins Democrat House Yea
Stan Berry Republican House Nay
Harlan Breaux Republican House Yea
Cameron Cooper Republican House Yea
Nicole Clowney Democrat House Nay
Cindy Crawford Republican House Nay
Denise Garner Democrat House Nay
Tippi McCullough Democrat House Nay
Jay Richardson Democrat House Nay
Jamie Scott Democrat House Nay
Jim Wooten Republican House Yea
Denise Ennett Democrat House Nay
Richard McGrew Republican House Nay
Joy Springer Democrat House Nay
Howard Beaty Republican House Yea
Tony Furman Republican House Yea
Kendon Underwood Republican House Yea
David Ray Republican House Yea
Mark Berry Republican House Yea
John Carr Republican House Yea
Rick McClure Republican House Yea
Keith Brooks Republican House NV
Delia Haak Republican House NV
Ashley Hudson Democrat House Nay
Jon Milligan Republican House Yea
RJ Hawk Republican House Yea
Wade Andrews Republican House NV
Rebecca Burkes Republican House Nay
DeAnna Hodges Republican House Yea
Hope Duke Republican House Nay
Zack Gramlich Republican House NV
Mindy McAlindon Republican House Nay
Matt Duffield Republican House NV
Stetson Painter Republican House Yea
Steve Unger Republican House Yea
Wayne Long Republican House Nay
Scott Richardson Republican House Yea
Brandon Achor Republican House Yea
Jeremiah Moore Republican House Yea
Joey Carr Republican House Nay
Matt Brown Republican House Yea
Shad Pearce Republican House NV
Chad Puryear Republican House NV
Ryan Rose Republican House Yea
Bart Schulz Republican House Nay
Trey Steimel Republican House Nay
Tara Shephard Democrat House Nay
Jeremy Wooldridge Republican House Nay
Kendra Moore Republican House Nay
Brit McKenzie Republican House Nay
Steven Walker Republican House Nay
Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us