119-HR-7946 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A short bill to let people who are breastfeeding opt out of federal and D.C. jury duty upon request.

What It Does

H.R. 7946 changes federal jury selection law so that anyone who is breastfeeding can be excused from jury service if they ask. It also updates D.C. law to do the same for local juries. The excusal happens on request—through the court or, if allowed by the court’s plan, the clerk—without additional conditions spelled out in the bill. Practically, it aims to prevent conflicts between court service and feeding or pumping schedules, storage needs, and infant care.

• Amends 28 U.S.C. §1866 to add a breastfeeding-based excusal on request.
• Amends D.C. Code §11‑1908(b) to allow an excusal on request for breastfeeding individuals in D.C. courts.
• Does not specify documentation requirements, time limits, or definitions beyond “breastfeeding.”

Who’s For It

• Sponsor: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D‑DC) introduced the bill on March 16, 2026.
• Supporters are likely to include maternal and child health advocates and breastfeeding support organizations, who argue the change reduces medical and logistical hardship and supports infant nutrition.
• Some court‑access and gender‑equity advocates may back it as a narrowly tailored accommodation that avoids forcing new parents to navigate pumping arrangements in courthouses.

Who’s Against It

• No formal opposition is recorded in the provided materials at introduction.
• Potential concerns: categorical exemptions can shrink jury pools or create unequal burdens on remaining jurors, especially in small districts.
• Some may prefer case‑by‑case deferrals or on‑site accommodations (private lactation spaces, flexible schedules) rather than a blanket excusal.
• Questions likely to arise: how long the exemption lasts, how courts verify eligibility (if at all), and whether related caregivers who bottle‑feed expressed milk should be treated similarly.

What’s Next

Status as of March 17, 2026: Introduced in the House on March 16, 2026 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Next steps typically include committee consideration (hearings/markup). If reported, it would go to a House floor vote, then to the Senate, and finally to the President if passed by both chambers.

Notes and impacts

• Who’s affected: breastfeeding individuals summoned for jury duty; courts that manage jury pools; families and infants who rely on direct feeding or pumping schedules.
• Possible impacts: fewer hardship requests to manage; small, temporary effects on jury‑pool size; clearer guidance for clerks.
• Open questions the bill leaves to implementation: documentation standards, duration of eligibility, and consistency across districts.