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Judiciary committee gives due-pass to bill raising bar exam application fee to $200
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to give Senate Bill 2053 a due-pass recommendation after the State Board of Law Examiners and the Supreme Court asked to raise the bar application fee from $150 to $200, citing rising administration and exam costs.
The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2053, which would raise the state bar exam application fee from $150 to $200.
Petra Mandegoholm, clerk of the Supreme Court and secretary treasurer of the State Board of Law Examiners, testified the board requests the increase because the current fee “does not cover the expenses of the administration of the examination.” She said the fee has not changed since 1997 and that the exam is administered to about 100 examinees a year.
Mandegoholm told the committee the board’s examples of costs include staff time, proctors, graders, exam materials and facility rental. “The costs for us to buy the actual exam itself is $132 per [examinee],” she said, and added the National Conference of Bar Examiners has signaled further increases tied to the new electronic, next-generation exam scheduled to begin in 2027.
Committee members questioned whether the proposed increase would be sufficient. Chair Larson asked if the change would eliminate the need for another request in a future session; Mandegoholm replied the board “might not be,” certain it would be enough and noted late fees contribute additional revenue.
The fiscal-note discussion prompted a clarification from Mandegoholm about applicant counts: the fiscal estimate assumed roughly 120 applicants in some years, while the board’s testimony referenced an average of about 100 per year. Senator Kesten Yada asked about a $12,000 revenue line in the fiscal note; Mandegoholm said that estimate used 120 applicants and biennial calculations.
Motion and vote: Senator Merdahl moved a due-pass recommendation on SB 2053, seconded by Senator Lueck. The committee took a roll call; Senators Romburger, Corey, Paulson, Lewick, Castaneda, Myrtle and Chair Larson voted in favor. The motion carried. Senator Cory was designated to carry the bill forward.
Because the committee’s action was a due-pass recommendation, SB 2053 will move toward further consideration with the sponsor designated to carry it.
