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IdahoH 05602026 regular legislative sessionHouseWALLET

JURIES – Amends existing law to allow prospective jurors in certain circumstances to volunteer as poll workers in lieu of serving on a jury.

Sponsored By: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

JURIES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Volunteer poll workers may be unpaid

Beginning July 1, 2026, counties still set poll worker pay at no less than Idaho’s minimum wage. This pay rule does not cover people who volunteer under the jury‑duty exchange program. If you volunteer under that program, you may be unpaid or paid less than the county’s minimum for poll workers. Regular election workers remain covered by the minimum‑wage rule.

Trade jury duty for poll work

Beginning July 1, 2026, if you ask to be excused or postponed from jury duty, the court can offer a trade. When the county clerk says an upcoming election is short on poll workers and the court approves, you can volunteer at the polls instead. The clerk sets how many volunteers are needed and the dates and hours. If you accept and finish the work, you are excused from jury service for two years. If you accept but do not finish, you go back on the jury list. Other jury exemptions are limited to those allowed in this same law. People age 70 or older can still elect to be excused.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Joe Alfieri

    Republican • House

  • Phil Hart

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 103 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/16/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 68 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 59 Effective: 07/01/2026

    3/20/2026

  2. Delivered to Governor at 4:22 p.m. on March 18, 2026

    3/19/2026

  3. Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor

    3/18/2026Senate

  4. Signed by President; returned to House

    3/18/2026Senate

  5. Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

    3/17/2026House

  7. Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling

    3/17/2026House

  8. Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0

    3/16/2026Senate

  9. Read second time; filed for Third Reading

    3/10/2026Senate

  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

    3/9/2026Senate

  11. Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs

    2/27/2026Senate

  12. Received from the House passed; filed for first reading

    2/27/2026Senate

  13. Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-0-2

    2/26/2026House

  14. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    2/25/2026House

  15. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    2/24/2026House

  16. Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs

    1/30/2026House

  17. Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

    1/29/2026House

Bill Text

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