The Utah Senate on Wednesday read Second Substitute House Bill 49 for a third time and approved the measure by a vote of 15–4, with 10 senators absent.

The bill updates current juror-eligibility rules to add people whose felony convictions have been reduced to misdemeanors or expunged to the pool of those who may serve on juries. Senator Christine Rollins, presenting the bill on the floor, said it "provides a pathway for rehabilitated and reformed citizens with past felonies to participate in jury duty." Rollins added that courts retain their authority "to assess disqualifications and determine eligibility through their interviews and forms."

The change narrows the former statutory practice that relied on a ten-year post-release or probation period by allowing restoration of eligibility when a conviction has been reduced or expunged. Senator Rollins said the bill "encourages those who have rehabilitated in our correction system to have their civil rights restored."

Senator Brent Brammer opposed the bill. "I'll be voting no," he said, arguing that jurors with prior felonies can bring "anger and a bitterness towards the system" that could compromise convictions and make it harder for prosecutors to meet the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard. Brammer also emphasized prosecutors' limited peremptory strikes during jury selection and said his concerns were rooted in how those dynamics play out during trials.

Senator Wyler spoke in support: "I rise in support of the bill. I think the more that we can get people who have served their time back into our communities and feeling responsible, the better." Wyler added that expunged convictions already permit service in practice and called opposition evidence largely anecdotal.

Senator Stratton, explaining his vote, said jurors naturally bring biases into deliberations and that including additional rehabilitated citizens helps produce a cross-section of the community. "I do disagree that this bill would cause more criminals to be not convicted," he said.

Senator Owens moved that the second substitute be read for a third time; the motion passed in the roll-call vote. The bill will proceed under the legislature's next steps for final enactment.

The floor debate centered on the balance between restoring civic participation for people who have completed rehabilitation steps and concerns about potential juror bias raised by prosecutors. No amendment outcomes were recorded on the floor during the debate.

Votes at a glance: Second Substitute House Bill 49 — 15 yes, 4 no, 10 absent; motion to read for third time passed.

The bill's enactment will change how courts and election officials consider potential jurors with reduced or expunged convictions; courts retain screening authority to disqualify individuals for cause where appropriate.