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House approves optional evening hours for justice courts
Summary
Senate Bill 219, allowing justice courts the option to open up to four evenings a week (a pilot tested in West Valley), passed the House 51–20; proponents said evening hours benefit working people and employers.
The House passed Senate Bill 219, which permits justice courts to operate up to four evenings a week on an optional basis.
Representative Goodfellow described the proposal as a response to a successful pilot at West Valley Justice Court that allowed evening hours; the measure would let courts offer evening sessions so people who work daytime shifts would not have to miss work to appear. When Representative Steiler asked whether small rural justice courts would be required to adopt evening hours, the sponsor clarified the bill only gives courts the option and does not impose a minimum schedule on smaller jurisdictions.
The clerk reported the floor vote: Senate Bill 219 received 51 yes votes and 20 no votes and will be referred back to the Senate.
Next steps: The bill provides an optional framework for courts to expand hours, but local courts will decide whether to adopt evening schedules.
