House approves juror‑selection bill that keeps clerks using active‑voter lists
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Summary
Members passed a bill to clarify that clerks may continue drawing juror pools from active‑voter lists rather than adding inactive voters, a change sponsors said avoids large county costs; members questioned definitions for 'inactive' and impacts on purging.
The House passed legislation clarifying juror‑qualification rules so that clerks may continue pulling jury pools from active‑voter lists.
Explaining the bill, the sponsor said it would "allow the clerks to continue pulling their jury pool from the active voter list," adding that a recent court opinion prompted uncertainty and that adding inactive voters could impose additional costs on counties. A member asked whether the bill's wording could trigger unintended voter‑roll purging; the sponsor responded that the bill does not change the permanent status of a qualified elector.
Members debated the meaning of "inactive" and the possible downstream effects on voter‑roll maintenance. The sponsor said clerks historically have sent jury notices to active voters and that the bill is intended to preserve that practice.
The measure passed on a recorded vote.