California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 1359
Jury service exemptions.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Ahrens (Democratic)
Cosponsors (1)
- Bryan (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law allows for an eligible person to be excused from jury service only for undue hardship upon themselves or the public, as defined by the Judicial Council. Existing rules of court allow a person with a disability or their representative to seek a permanent medical excuse from jury service and require the individual to submit a written request accompanied by a supporting letter, memo, or note from a treating health care provider, as specified.
This bill would, commencing January 1, 2028, authorize a person 80 years of age or older to seek a permanent excuse from jury service due to a medical impairment without providing a supporting letter, memorandum, or note from a treating health care provider. The bill would require the court to permanently excuse a person who seeks the above-described permanent excuse from jury service upon the jury commissioner's receipt of a written attestation stating that the person has an impairment, as specified. The bill would authorize the Judicial Council to adopt or amend a rule of court and publish related judicial forms as necessary to implement these provisions.
Text versions
- 09/14/26 - Chaptered· Sep 14, 2026
- 08/24/26 - Enrolled· Aug 24, 2026
- 08/13/26 - Amended Senate· Aug 13, 2026
- 07/01/26 - Amended Senate· Jul 1, 2026
- 01/05/26 - Amended Assembly· Jan 5, 2026
- 03/28/25 - Amended Assembly· Mar 28, 2025
- 02/21/25 - Introduced· Feb 21, 2025
- AB1359
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2026 House | AB 1359 Ahrens Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 19, 2026 Senate | 3rd Reading AB1359 Ahrens et al. By Cortese | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 13, 2026 Senate | Do pass as amended | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 29, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 16, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jan 26, 2026 House | AB 1359 Ahrens Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jan 22, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jan 13, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 14, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 195, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 14, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Aug 27, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. - Aug 20, 2026 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 6313.). - Aug 19, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Aug 19, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.). - Aug 17, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13). - Jul 1, 2026 · Senate
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 29, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Jun 17, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Com. on JUD. - Jan 27, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - Jan 26, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 1. Page 3837.) - Jan 22, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Jan 22, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (January 22). - Jan 22, 2026 · House
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. - Jan 22, 2026 · House
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.) - Jan 13, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Jan 5, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. - Jan 5, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. - Jan 5, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended. - Apr 1, 2025 · House
Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. - Mar 28, 2025 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended. - Mar 28, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV. - Feb 24, 2025 · House
Read first time. - Feb 22, 2025 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24. - Feb 21, 2025 · House
Introduced. To print.