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HB26-1022 • 2026

Jury Duty Opt-Out for People 72 Years or Older

The bill allows a person who is 72 years old or older to choose to temporarily or permanently opt out of jury service. The judge or jury commissioner may require documentation in support of the opt-ou

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. C. Barron
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about eligibility after temporary opt-out, only that it is allowed and proof of age may be required.

Jury Duty Opt-Out for People Aged 72 and Older

This bill allows people who are 72 years old or older to choose not to serve on a jury, either temporarily or permanently.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows individuals aged 72 or older to opt out of jury duty starting January 1, 2027.
  • Permits judges and jury commissioners to require proof of age for those opting out.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People aged 72 or older who receive a jury summons.
  • Judges and jury commissioners responsible for managing jury duty.

Terms To Know

Jury Service
The process of being selected to serve on a jury in court cases.
Opt-Out
Choosing not to participate in an activity, such as jury duty.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is unclear if the bill will take effect without public approval through a referendum.
  • The effective date of the bill depends on whether or not there is a referendum and its outcome.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording of a specific section in the bill to clarify how it applies.

  • Changes the phrase 'SUBSECTION (2.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION' to 'THIS SUBSECTION (2.7)' on page 3, line 8.
  • The amendment only changes the wording and does not provide additional details about how this affects the bill's main purpose.
  • It is unclear what specific impact this change will have without more context.
L.002

HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the duration of a temporary opt-out from jury duty for people aged 72 or older to one year, starting from when they request it.

  • Changes the length of time someone can temporarily opt out of jury duty from being determined by the court to exactly one year after requesting the opt-out.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens if a person wants to extend their temporary opt-out beyond one year.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to Appropriations

  2. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Official Summary Text

The bill allows a person who is 72 years old or older to choose to temporarily or permanently opt out of jury service. The judge or jury commissioner may require documentation in support of the opt-out.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0080.01 Jacob Baus x2173 HOUSE BILL 26-1022
House Committees Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AN OPT-OUT FROM JURY SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE101
AT LEAST SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OLD.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill allows a person who is 72 years old or older to choose to
temporarily or permanently opt out of jury service. The judge or jury
commissioner may require documentation in support of the opt-out.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Barron,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-71-119.5, add1
(2.7) as follows:2
13-71-119.5. Persons entitled to be excused from or to opt out3
of jury service - temporary or permanent.4
(2.7) (a) (I) B EGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A JUDGE OR JURY5
COMMISSIONER OF THE COURT TO WHICH A PERSON IS SUMMONED FOR6
JURY SERVICE SHALL ALLOW A PERSON WHO IS SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OLD7
OR OLDER, AS OF THE BEGINNING DATE OF JURY SERVICE STATED ON THE8
JUROR SUMMONS , TO TEMPORARILY OPT OUT OF JURY SERVICE IF THE9
PERSON REQUESTS TO TEMPORARILY OPT OUT OF JURY SERVICE.10
(II) A PERSON WHO TEMPORARILY OPTS OUT PURSUANT TO THIS11
SUBSECTION (2.7)(a) IS ELIGIBLE FOR JUROR QUALIFICATION WHEN THE12
TEMPORARY OPT-OUT EXPIRES, AS DETERMINED BY THE COURT.13
(b) N OTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (2.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION ,14
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A JUDGE OR JURY COMMISSIONER OF THE15
COURT TO WHICH A PERSON IS SUMMONED FOR JURY SERVICE SHALL16
ALLOW A PERSON WHO IS SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OLD OR OLDER, AS OF THE17
BEGINNING DATE OF JURY SERVICE STATED ON THE JUROR SUMMONS , TO18
PERMANENTLY OPT OUT OF JURY SERVICE IF THE PERSON REQUESTS TO19
PERMANENTLY OPT OUT OF JURY SERVICE.20
(c) THE JUDGE OR JURY COMMISSIONER OF THE COURT TO WHICH21
A PERSON IS SUMMONED FOR JURY SERVICE MAY REQUIRE THE PERSON22
WHO REQUESTS EITHER A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT OPT -OUT FROM23
JURY SERVICE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (2.7) TO PROVIDE A24
DOCUMENT DEMONSTRATING PROOF OF THEIR AGE . A DOCUMENT25
PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (2.7) IS NOT A PUBLIC RECORD26
AND MUST NOT BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.27
HB26-1022-2-
(d) A PERSON WHO REQUESTS A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT1
OPT-OUT FROM JURY SERVICE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (2.7) SHALL2
TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A DETERMINATION REGARDING3
THE REQUEST BEFORE THE BEGINNING DATE OF JURY SERVICE STATED ON4
THE JUROR SUMMONS.5
(e) SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON6
WHO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY OPTS OUT OF JURY SERVICE7
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION.8
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act9
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the10
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August11
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a12
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the13
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act14
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect15
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in16
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the17
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.18
HB26-1022-3-