H.B. No. 2637 seeks to amend the procedures for summoning jurors and the exemptions applicable to grand jury and petit jury service in Texas. A key provision of the bill is the requirement for parties to file a written demand for a jury trial and pay a $50 jury fee at least 30 days prior to the trial date, with the fee being deposited into the county jury fund. The bill also establishes a permanent exemption for individuals aged 75 and older from grand jury service, which can be claimed through a signed statement. Additionally, it mandates the maintenance of lists of disqualified persons based on felony convictions and other criteria, which will be shared with relevant authorities.

The legislation modifies existing legal language, replacing terms such as "excuses" with "exemptions" and clarifying the qualifications for serving as a grand juror, including a permanent disqualification for individuals with felony convictions. It assigns the responsibility of maintaining records of exempted and disqualified individuals to district clerks, who will also prepare and send monthly updates regarding these individuals to the secretary of state and local voter registrars. The bill further allows individuals to rescind their exemption at any time by submitting a request to the district clerk. These changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to individuals summoned for jury service on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 62.001, Government Code 62.0132, Government Code 62.102, Government Code 62.106, Government Code 62.107, Government Code 62.108, Government Code 62.109, Government Code 62.113, Government Code 13.007, Government Code 62.115 (Government Code 62, Government Code 13)