House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee
Key Moments
Michael Davis — Called during the roll call as present.
David Dolan — David Dolan was called during the roll call and recorded as present.
David Dolan — Asked about the bill's operation and noted he was not on the committee last year.
David Dolan — Representative David Dolan was recognized by the chair and briefly commented on the issue, explaining that the two bills are different and noting that voting rights after probation or parole are almost automatic, though re-registration is still required.
Keith Elliott — Keith Elliott was called during the roll call and recorded as present; the transcript spells his name inconsistently as 'Ely' and 'Elliot' in different places.
Keith Elliott — Representative Keith Elliott asks whether people can vote and register after completing parole or probation, questions why restoring voting rights would matter if it did not prevent the original crime, and requests statistics supporting claims about recidivism. He argues that prison itself would be a sufficient deterrent and that voting rights would not have changed his behavior before the offense.
Keith Elliott — Representative Keith Elliott is referenced in a continuous discussion about voting rights after release and the rationale for participation, with the witness responding to his question by discussing reoffending patterns and citing statistics to support the point.
Bill Falkner — Called during the roll call as present.
Yolonda Fountain Henderson — Called during the roll call as present; transcript renders the name as 'Mountain Henderson'.
Yolonda Fountain Henderson — Asked questions about the bill, including whether it had been filed four years ago and what happened to it.
Yolonda Fountain Henderson — Representative Yolonda Fountain Henderson was recognized to ask questions about absentee voting and then discussed how absentee voting works in St. Louis County, noting that it applies to first- and second-degree cases. She argued that people should be reached through absentee voting before sentencing and emphasized that release should restore voting rights. She also clarified that the bill’s changes would not require absentee ballots for sentenced incarcerated individuals, while reiterating support for voting rights after release.
Yolonda Fountain Henderson — Referenced as having talked about the commissioner and absentee voting concerns.
Barry Hovis — Called during the roll call as present.
Jim Kalberloh — Called during the roll call as present; transcript renders the name as 'Cobberlow'.
Bill Lucas — Called during the roll call as present.
Bill Lucas — Representative Bill Lucas was recognized by the chair and then stated that he supported the bill, while suggesting that a future version should exclude rapists and include a work requirement.
Bill Lucas — Representative Bill Lucas was recognized and then spoke from personal experience about how voting can restore a sense of belonging to the community and may help discourage reoffending, noting that having the right to vote makes a person feel part of the community again.
Marlene Terry — Called during the roll call as present.
Marlene Terry — Representative Marlene Terry was recognized and then shared a personal example of a loved one who was incarcerated but not yet sentenced receiving an absentee ballot in jail. She noted that the person had the right to vote and did vote, explaining that the ballot was mailed to his actual address and hand-carried to him. She suggested that an amendment or similar clarification would be helpful to add to the bill to address the process.
Marlene Terry — Addressed as having raised concerns about confusion regarding pre-sentencing incarceration and absentee voting.
Marlene Terry — Her concerns are acknowledged, and the speaker says the current draft does not expand absentee voting in the way she may be suggesting.
Marlene Terry — Referenced as having asked what the issue and hold-up were.
Marlene Terry — Witness said he was answering Representative Terry's question about why the proposal has not passed.
Rudy Veit — Called during the roll call as present; transcript renders the name as 'beat'.
Melanie Stennett — Introduced herself as State Representative for District 133 and began testimony on House Bill 2592.
Marlon Anderson — Testified in support of the bill and cited jurisdictions allowing voting while on supervision.
Brandon Ellington — Testified in favor of the bill and identified himself as representing Van Gogh Consultants, LLC, and as a former state representative and former city council person.
Gwen Smith-More — Gwen Smith-More, a criminal justice policy manager with Empower Missouri, testifies in support of the bills. She explains that they would promote civic engagement and help remedy the loss of voting rights for people reentering society and those on supervision, and she urges the committee to vote in favor.
Alex Eat (questionable) — The next witness began identifying himself, but the name is cut off and uncertain.
Center for Responsive Government Action — A representative testified in support of the three bills and said the organization has worked with the representatives for the past couple of years.
Sheena Rogers — Sheena Rogers testified from personal experience about being incarcerated, rebuilding her life after release, and now working, paying taxes, serving her community, and helping others believe they can change. She explained that while parole allows her to work, raise her children, and follow the rules, she still cannot vote, which she described as deeply hurtful and exclusionary. She argued that denying voting rights sends the message that people can live and contribute in the community but not fully belong, and that restoring voting rights is an investment in a person’s future rather than excusing past conduct. She concluded by expressing support for the bills and referencing Justice for All and the Missouri Justice Coalition.
Kay Park — Kay Park, speaking for the League of Women Voters of Missouri, testified in support of the legislation. She explained that when people return to society after incarceration, accomplishments such as housing, employment, and voting help rebuild their sense of belonging and self-esteem. She closed by reaffirming her support and expressing respect for the previous witness’s personal experience.
Tyler Travers — Tyler Travers introduces himself as a registered lobbyist and testifies on behalf of the ACLU of Missouri and Missouri Appleseed in support of the combined legislation.
Canika Harper — Canika Harper of Justice for All testified in support of the bills, noting that about 52,000 Missourians are on probation and parole and arguing that the legislation represents a balanced, pro-community reform approach for Missouri.
Sharon Galway Jones — Sharon Galway Jones testified on behalf of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP in support of restoring voting rights, arguing that voting is a fundamental right and that people who have worked, paid taxes, and completed incarceration should have their rights restored.
Camelia Peterson — Camelia Peterson, speaking on behalf of Americans for Prosperity, testified in support of restoring voting rights after release and closed by reiterating that those voting rights should be restored as well.
Conor Lubert — Conor Lubert testifies on behalf of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, beginning his remarks and continuing the same testimony in support of the coalition’s position on the bills, including reference to a prepared statement from Denise Lieberman.
Bennie Cook — Called during the roll call as Vice Chair and present.
Kimberly-Ann Collins — Kimberly-Ann Collins is first noted during roll call as the Ranking Member and present, then introduces herself as Representative Kimberly-Ann Collins, representing the city of St. Louis in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Kimberly-Ann Collins — The witness initially identified Representative Kimberly-Ann Collins' bill as 2684, then immediately corrected it to 2834 and stated for the record that he wanted to support the legislation.
Kimberly-Ann Collins — The witness earlier referenced Representative Collins' bill number in the prior section; here the witness continues discussing the committee's bills generally.
Chris Brown — Called during the roll call as present.
Gregg Bush — Called during the roll call as present.
Gregg Bush — Representative Gregg Bush was recognized to ask follow-up questions about the bill’s impact on people held in county jails who have not been convicted and have not yet been evaluated for competency. He asked how the proposal would affect individuals awaiting competency evaluation or psychiatric assessment, and noted that people who have not been deemed incapacitated would currently retain the right to vote.
Don Mayhew — Called to order as Chairman and present for the roll call.