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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB2637

Regular Session

Relating to the practice and procedures for summoning prospective grand jurors and petit jurors and the exemption of certain persons from grand jury and petit jury service.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB2637: Government Affairs Overview

HB2637 raises the age for automatic exemption from jury service from 70 to 75, immediately expanding the pool of employees liable for summons and requiring updates to workforce management policies. For government technology vendors and court clerks, the law mandates new, strict monthly reporting workflows regarding juror disqualifications that must be operationalized by July 2025.

Rep. Mano DeAyala·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

County Voter Registrars • District Clerks • Prosecuting Attorneys • Secretary of State

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HB2637
Relating to the practice and procedures for summoning prospective grand jurors and petit jurors and the exemption of certain persons from grand jury a...
Low Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote133 - 13
YEA
91% in favor146 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
13
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
County Voter RegistrarsDistrict ClerksProsecuting AttorneysSecretary of State
Primary Author: Rep. Mano DeAyala
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
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Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Note: This legislation received the necessary vote for immediate effect; do not wait for the standard September 1 start date).
  • Compliance Deadline:
  • Employers: Immediate. Summonses for appearance on or after June 20, 2025, are subject to the new age threshold.
  • GovTech Vendors/Clerks: First mandatory reports are due the 3rd business day of July 2025.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Secretary of State is not explicitly required to issue rules, but technical guidance regarding the "electronic transmission" of disqualification lists is expected. Watch for technical bulletins immediately.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. HR Departments: Issue a memo to all managers clarifying that the jury duty exemption age is now 75, effective immediately.
  • 2. GovTech Vendors: Deploy a software patch before July 1, 2025, updating the exemption logic from age 70 to 75 and automating the "3rd business day" report generation.
  • 3. In-House Counsel: Review pending litigation jury pools. The demographic composition of your potential jurors will shift immediately; adjust voir dire strategies accordingly.
  • 4. District Clerks: Establish a protocol with the County Voter Registrar and District Attorney to ensure the secure receipt of the new monthly disqualification lists.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Government Software Vendors: Review Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with Texas counties. Your software must now support the "3rd business day" reporting cadence. Failure to update code to generate these statutory reports may constitute a breach of warranty regarding legal compliance.

Hiring/Training

  • HR & Management: Update employee handbooks and leave policies immediately. Managers must be trained that employees aged 70–74 are no longer automatically exempt from jury duty. Denying leave to an employee in this bracket under the assumption they "could have opted out" creates liability under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Court Clerks & Vendors: Systems must be reconfigured to generate four distinct lists by the 3rd business day of every month for transmission to the Secretary of State, Voter Registrar, and/or Prosecuting Attorney:
  • 1. Persons permanently exempt (Age 75+).
  • 2. Persons disqualified due to non-citizenship.
  • 3. Persons disqualified due to non-residency.
  • 4. Persons disqualified due to felony or misdemeanor theft convictions.

Fees & Costs

  • Operational Costs: Employers should budget for increased absenteeism due to jury service among the 70–74 demographic.
  • Vendor Costs: Immediate development costs to patch case management software to accommodate the new age logic (75) and reporting schedules.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Validity of Prior Exemptions: The statute does not explicitly void permanent exemptions previously filed by individuals currently aged 70–74. It is unclear if these individuals must re-qualify or if their "permanent" status is revoked. Guidance: Treat these exemptions as voidable; advise employees in this bracket to respond to summonses rather than relying on prior filings.
  • Data Transmission Standards: The law mandates "electronic transmission" of disqualification lists to the Secretary of State but fails to define the technical standard (e.g., API, secure FTP, CSV format). Vendors must be prepared to pivot quickly once the Secretary of State clarifies the ingestion method.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 11, 2025
Passed House
Apr 24, 2025
Passed Senate
May 25, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCounty GovernmentCounty Government--financeCourtsCourts--civil ProcedureCourts--districtCourts--juriesCriminal ProcedureCriminal Procedure--generalFees & Other Nontax RevenueFees & Other Nontax Revenue--localAging
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House Authors

Rep. Mano DeAyalaRepublican · Primary Author

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Bryan HughesRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

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View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2637

Q

What does Texas HB2637 do?

HB2637 raises the age for automatic exemption from jury service from 70 to 75, immediately expanding the pool of employees liable for summons and requiring updates to workforce management policies. For government technology vendors and court clerks, the law mandates new, strict monthly reporting workflows regarding juror disqualifications that must be operationalized by July 2025.

Q

Who authored HB2637?

HB2637 was authored by Texas Representative Mano DeAyala during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB2637 signed into law?

HB2637 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB2637?

HB2637 is enforced by County Voter Registrars, District Clerks, Prosecuting Attorneys and Secretary of State.

Q

How significant are the changes in HB2637?

The regulatory priority for HB2637 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB2637?

The cost impact of HB2637 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB2637 address?

HB2637 addresses topics including county government, county government--finance, courts, courts--civil procedure and courts--district.

Q

What are the key dates for HB2637?

Key dates for HB2637: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026