2026 Regular Session
SB81
Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act)
Legislative progress
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This summary includes only completed milestones supported by recorded actions. It does not predict the next step, and it preserves later committee reassignments, concurrence, conference, veto, and approval actions when they occur.
Partner positions
Dislikes
This measure removes a defendant’s ability to unilaterally waive a jury trial and instead conditions that right on the consent of the prosecuting authority. A defendant’s choice of trial by judge or jury is a fundamental right that should not be subject to approval by the opposing party.
Recorded floor votes
2 roll calls are available for this bill. This record includes procedural and intermediate action as well as substantive final votes.
March 24, 2026 · Senate
Senate Vote on SB 81 FINAL PASSAGE (#136)
Passed ⭐ Substantive final action
27 yea–11 nay · 1 absent
May 19, 2026 · House
House Vote on SB 81 FINAL PASSAGE (#1402)
Passed ⭐ Substantive final action
59 yea–41 nay · 5 absent
Committee referrals
March 25, 2026 · House
Administration of Criminal Justice
February 20, 2026 · Senate
Judiciary C
Instrument history
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This is the complete recorded action history in the current source package. Highlighted entries are marked as significant by the source. A roll-call link appears only when a vote-like action has one unambiguous same-day chamber vote.
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Senate Effective date: See Act.
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Senate Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 455.
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House Signed by the Speaker of the House.
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Senate Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.
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Senate Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
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Senate Received from the House without amendments.
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House Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 41. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.. View roll call
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House Called from the calendar.
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House Scheduled for floor debate on 05/19/2026.
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House Notice given.
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House Read by title, returned to the calendar.
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House Called from the calendar.
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House Scheduled for floor debate on 05/18/2026.
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House Notice given.
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House Read by title, returned to the calendar.
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House Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.
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House Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.
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House Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
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House Reported favorably (7-3). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
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House Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
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House Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
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Senate Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 11 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled. View roll call
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Senate Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
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Senate Reported favorably.
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Senate Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
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Senate Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.