AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and Title 40, relative to voting rights.
Summary
This bill amends Tennessee law governing restoration of voting rights for people with felony convictions. Specifically, it changes one of the eligibility requirements in Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-29-102 by requiring a person seeking to regain the right to vote to have been compliant with all child support orders for the previous 12 months, including any arrearages, rather than the prior standard reflected in the statute. The bill is framed as a voting-rights measure and applies within the broader process for restoring civil rights after a felony conviction.
In practical terms, the bill affects individuals with felony records who are trying to restore their voting rights in Tennessee. It narrows or clarifies the conditions tied to child support compliance as part of the restoration process, and it updates Title 40 of the Tennessee Code, which governs criminal procedure and post-conviction matters, as well as Title 2, which covers elections and voting. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-29-102, altering the statutory requirements for restoration of voting rights for certain people with felony convictions. By tying eligibility to 12 months of compliance with child support orders, including arrearages, it changes the legal criteria that registrars and affected applicants must use when determining whether voting rights may be restored. The measure primarily impacts formerly incarcerated individuals, election officials, and agencies involved in verifying compliance with child support obligations.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, with unanimous committee recommendations in both the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and the House Judiciary Committee. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded votes indicate the measure moved forward without recorded opposition in committee. Overall, the bill appears to have been received favorably as a voting-rights-related reform with a specific eligibility condition attached.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of child support compliance as a condition for restoring voting rights. Supporters may view this as a way to ensure responsibility and compliance with court-ordered obligations, while critics could argue that it creates an additional barrier to re-enfranchisement for people with felony convictions, particularly those with financial hardship or arrearages. No direct committee debate is available, so the record does not show specific arguments from legislators, but the issue itself implicates the balance between voting access and enforcement of family-support obligations.