House Resolution No. ___, introduced by Representative Owen, authorizes the legislative auditor to analyze the fiscal impact of establishing and operating a sentencing review panel within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections specifically for non-unanimous jury verdicts. This initiative arises from recent legal changes, including the 2018 constitutional amendment mandating unanimous jury verdicts for noncapital felony cases and the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Ramos v. Louisiana, which reinforced the requirement for unanimous verdicts. The resolution highlights the public and legislative interest in understanding the implications of non-unanimous jury verdicts and the potential need for a review panel to assess these cases.

The resolution outlines specific considerations for the legislative auditor's analysis, including the salaries for a twelve-member panel consisting of six licensed attorneys and six additional staff members, as well as operational expenses and the collection and analysis of relevant sentencing data. The auditor is tasked with reporting its findings to the Speaker of the House by December 31, 2025, to inform legislative decision-making regarding the establishment of the review panel. A copy of the resolution will also be transmitted to relevant legislative officials and research libraries.