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House committee considers doubling juror pay; questions about local costs remain
Summary
Senate Bill 3‑70 would raise juror pay (proposed first‑day $25, additional $25 if selected; subsequent day $50 in some versions); sponsors say the change would reduce barriers to service while committee members press for clarity on local fiscal impacts.
Senate Bill 3‑70, sponsored by Senator Mike Yakovich, would increase jury compensation in Montana, boosting the per‑day stipend paid to prospective and seated jurors to better reflect lost wages and encourage civic participation.
Yakovich described the proposal as modest and targeted: under the bill language discussed in committee, jurors would receive $25 for the first day they serve (an increase from $12) and an additional $25 if they are selected for the jury. For longer service, the bill referenced $50 for subsequent days in some iterations; Yakovich characterized the change as "doubling it" from current first‑day pay.
Proponents including Jeff Esman testified that higher pay would lower barriers for employees and small‑employer situations where paid leave is not available. "This bill would help lower that barrier, and I think help engage these people," Esman said, arguing that fair compensation supports civic participation.
Committee members asked detailed fiscal questions. Yakovich said the fiscal note for district courts is $400,000 and that municipal and justice courts would bear local costs; Vice Chair France cited an earlier estimate of $8.8 million for certain limited jurisdictions that were later excluded from the state's fiscal note. Yakovich said he estimated a per‑court local cost "ballpark" of about $77,000 in his calculations and asked that the bill be moved to appropriations for further work.
What happens next: Sponsor asked for a do‑pass and requested the bill move to appropriations so lawmakers can resolve district and local cost allocations and address follow‑up details such as multi‑day sequestration compensation and mileage.
