Increases fees paid to jurors to fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.

Rhode Island Jury Fee Increase Bill

This bill would increase the daily pay that Rhode Island provides to people who serve on juries. Under the proposal, jurors would receive $50 per day for their service. Currently, Rhode Island pays jurors a lower daily rate, and this bill aims to bring that compensation closer to the actual cost of taking time away from work and daily responsibilities to participate in the justice system.

The bill directly affects anyone called to serve on a jury in Rhode Island. Jury duty is a civic obligation that can require people to take time off work — sometimes for days or even weeks — which can create financial hardship, especially for hourly workers or those without paid leave. By raising the daily fee, the bill is intended to help reduce some of that financial burden for everyday Rhode Islanders who are summoned to serve.

The bill also has implications for the state government, as higher juror pay would mean increased costs for the court system. It has already passed the Senate and has been recommended for passage by a committee, and is now being considered by the House Finance Committee, which will likely examine the budget impact before it moves forward. If passed and signed into law, the change would apply to jurors serving in Rhode Island courts going forward.