Bill > SB1888

This bill modifies jury selection rules for counties with populations under 1,000, creating more flexible provisions for jury pool recruitment. Specifically, the bill allows grand jurors and petit (trial) jurors in small counties to be selected from neighboring counties within the same judicial district if those counties' residents meet certain qualifications. These qualifications include being at least 18 years old, being a US citizen, holding a valid Texas driver's license or personal identification card, and not being disqualified due to previous criminal convictions. The bill expands the sources for creating jury wheels (lists of potential jurors) to include voter registration lists and Department of Public Safety records from contiguous counties, addressing potential challenges in rural areas with small populations where finding enough local jurors might be difficult. The changes apply only to jury summons issued on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025), and aim to ensure a fair cross-section of potential jurors can be assembled in sparsely populated counties while maintaining core jury service eligibility requirements.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1888