Bill > HB600

This bill modifies Missouri's jury service excusal provisions by lowering the age at which individuals can automatically be excused from jury duty from 75 to 70 years old. The bill maintains existing exemption categories for jury service, which include individuals who have served on a jury within the past two years, nursing mothers, those whose absence from work would adversely affect public interests, people experiencing undue physical or financial hardship, licensed healthcare providers actively treating patients, employees of religious institutions with conflicting religious obligations, and now specifically those who are 70 years of age or older. The bill provides detailed guidelines for requesting jury duty exemptions, requiring individuals seeking excusal for hardship to provide comprehensive documentation such as tax returns, medical statements, or proof of dependency. Judges retain significant discretion in evaluating hardship claims, with specific criteria outlined for what constitutes undue hardship, such as inability to find alternative caregiving, substantial impact on daily living expenses, or potential health risks. After being excused, individuals become eligible for jury service again after two years, unless a judge determines their exemption is of a permanent nature.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB600&year=2025&code=R