HB209 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Susan DuBoseRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Jury duty; exemption for nursing mothers

Summary

HB209 adds a nursing mother exemption from jury duty, allowing nursing mothers to be excused for up to 24 months with proper certification.

What This Bill Does

It allows a nursing mother who is summoned for jury service to be excused from serving. To qualify, she must provide a written statement that she is nursing and a birth certificate or other government or medical document verifying the birth of the child. The exemption lasts 24 months from the date of excusal, after which she may be directed to reappear for jury service. The act works with existing excusal grounds and preserves automatic postponement rights, and it becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Nursing mothers who are prospective jurors: can be excused from jury duty for up to 24 months by providing nursing verification documents.
• Courts and jury administrators: must grant the nursing mother exemption when requested, verify nursing status with required documentation, and manage potential reappearance after the 24-month period.

Key Provisions

• Adds nursing mother as a ground to be excused from jury service under Section 12-16-63(b)(3).
• Requires the nursing mother to provide a written statement that she is nursing and a birth certificate or other government document or medical record certifying the birth of the child she is nursing.
• Sets the exemption period at 24 months from the date of excusal, with the possibility of directed reappearance after the period ends.
• Becomes effective October 1, 2025 and does not affect the right to an automatic postponement under Section 12-16-63.1.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Courts & Judges