AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO JARED SCOTT DRENNAN OF COVINGTON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.
Summary
HB4133 is a private suffrage bill that restores the right to vote to Jared Scott Drennan of Covington County, Mississippi. The bill states that Drennan was previously disqualified as an elector because of a 2007 grand larceny conviction, and it also recites later convictions in Harrison County for possession of a controlled substance with intent and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. It further notes that he was released from parole in 2022 and that the Legislature has been informed he has since lived as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
The measure is narrowly tailored to one individual and does not create a general change in election law or criminal law. If enacted, it would immediately and fully restore Drennan’s suffrage rights, allowing him to register and vote again under Mississippi law. The act takes effect upon passage.
Impact
HB4133 would amend the legal status of a single person by removing the voting disqualification tied to his felony convictions. It does not alter the state’s broader constitutional or statutory rules governing disenfranchisement, restoration of rights, or eligibility to vote for other individuals with felony records. Its practical effect is limited to restoring suffrage to Jared Scott Drennan and signaling legislative approval of his reentry into civic participation.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment must be inferred from its text. The bill is presented in a favorable, rehabilitative tone, emphasizing that Drennan has completed his sentence and has behaved in a law-abiding and honorable manner since release. That framing suggests the bill is intended as a routine private relief measure rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available transcripts or voting history. Potential concerns, if raised, would likely center on the appropriateness of restoring voting rights to a person with multiple felony convictions, including a drug offense and firearm possession by a convicted felon. Supporters, by contrast, would likely emphasize completion of sentence, parole release, and rehabilitation as reasons for restoration.