A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the establishment of the Kentucky Restoration of Voting Rights Task Force.
Summary
SCR 89 is a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Kentucky Restoration of Voting Rights Task Force. The task force would study Kentucky’s current constitutional and statutory framework governing the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences, and it would develop recommendations for possible constitutional amendments or statutory changes. It is also directed to review existing laws and proposed amendments, gather input from affected individuals and experts, and prepare recommendations for the General Assembly.
The resolution sets out the task force’s structure and timeline. It would include members of both the House and Senate, with bipartisan appointments from legislative leaders, and could include additional members as needed. The task force would meet at least monthly during the 2025 interim, be staffed by the Legislative Research Commission, and submit a report by December 1, 2025, for possible consideration in the 2026 Regular Session. The resolution also allows the Legislative Research Commission to assign the issue to another interim committee or subcommittee if it chooses.
Impact
SCR 89 does not itself change Kentucky law or restore voting rights directly. Instead, it creates a formal study process that could lead to future constitutional amendments or statutory revisions affecting Section 145 of the Kentucky Constitution and related election laws governing disenfranchisement and rights restoration for people with felony convictions. Its practical impact is to place the issue on the legislative agenda and create a pathway for recommendations that could affect formerly incarcerated individuals, election administration, and the state’s voter eligibility rules.
Sentiment
The bill’s tone is generally supportive and exploratory, emphasizing fairness, civic reintegration, and election integrity. The findings language frames voting rights restoration as a matter of balancing accountability with opportunities for people who have completed their sentences to rejoin civic life. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or amendment activity in the available record.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the underlying policy question of whether and how Kentucky should restore voting rights to people with felony convictions after sentence completion. Supporters are likely to emphasize reintegration, fairness, and simplifying a process described in the resolution as complex and inefficient. Potential critics would likely focus on accountability, the constitutional exclusion in Section 145, and concerns about election integrity or the scope of any proposed changes. The resolution itself tries to address those concerns by limiting the immediate action to study and recommendations rather than direct legal change.