The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama allows residents aged 80 and older to permanently opt out of jury duty
Last action · April 22, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Tom Butler
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What This Bill Does
Residents aged 80 and older can submit a written request to the court for a permanent exemption from jury service starting October 1, 2026. Courts must remove these individuals from the upon receiving their request.
Older adults gain the legal option to be excused from participating in court trials without needing to provide a reason or reapply for each summons.
- Jury service requirements and exemptions in Alabama are established by state statute under the Code of Alabama 1975. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
individuals 80 years of age or older
They gain the option to submit a written request for permanent exemption from jury service and subsequent removal from the master jury list.
court officials
They must process written exemption requests from qualified individuals and remove those prospective jurors from the master jury list.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the permanent jury service exemption?
How does an eligible resident request the exemption?
What action does the court take upon receiving the request?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Apr 22, 2026SenateEnrolledEnacted
- Apr 8, 2026HouseSignature Requested
- Apr 8, 2026SenateEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Apr 8, 2026SenateEnrolled
- Apr 8, 2026SenateReady to Enroll
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1231
Show 11 earlier actions
- Apr 7, 2026HouseThird Reading in Second House
- Mar 11, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Mar 11, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Feb 24, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
- Feb 24, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 566
- Feb 24, 2026SenateThird Reading in House of Origin
- Feb 12, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Feb 11, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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