Constitution; amend to restore voting rights to qualified electors who have committed a felony once sentencing requirements are met.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Earle Banks

Constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for felons after completing sentencing, expanding eligible voters pending voter approval.

Died In Committee

#constitution #judiciaryb

Overview

HC 22 is a House Concurrent Resolution proposed in January 2025 to amend the state constitution. The purpose is to restore voting rights to individuals who have committed a felony after they have completed sentencing requirements. As a concurrent resolution, it would propose a constitutional change that, if approved by voters, could modify who is eligible to vote in the state.

Purpose and intent

Restore voting rights to qualified electors who have committed a felony, upon completion of sentencing requirements.

Remove or modify ongoing or permanent disenfranchisement for felons, contingent on meeting specified conditions post-sentencing.

Align the state's constitutional framework with the objective of re-enfranchising individuals who have served their sentence and fulfilled obligations tied to their felony conviction.

Key provisions (as stated)

Amend the state constitution to restore voting rights to felons after they meet sentencing requirements.

The bill designates this change as a constitutional amendment, likely to be decided by voters.

No detailed statutory mechanics are provided in the summary; the exact definition of “sentencing requirements” and any related conditions would be established by the constitutional language and any implementing statutes.

Affected parties and impact

Affected: individuals who have felony convictions (felons) and meet the specified sentencing requirements.

Electorate: potential expansion of voters who regain eligibility after completing sentence conditions.

Election administration: would require any necessary administrative updates to reflect the constitutional change and ensure compliance once enacted.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: January 17, 2025.

Classification: concurrent resolution (intended to propose a constitutional amendment via legislative action that would require voter approval).

Legislative actions:

2025-01-17: Referred to Judiciary B; Constitution.
2025-02-04: Died In Committee.

Status: Died in committee, meaning the proposal did not advance in the current session and would not become law unless reintroduced in a future session.

Constitutional implications

If enacted, would constitute a constitutional amendment in the state. As a concurrent resolution, passage would typically require approval by both chambers and, ultimately, voter approval in a general election or statewide ballot.

The amendment would create a constitutional framework for when and how felons regain voting rights, potentially superseding existing statutory disenfranchisement rules.

Next steps and considerations

If reintroduced, proponents would need to specify the precise conditions defining “sentencing requirements” and the process for restoration.

Key considerations for lawmakers and stakeholders include definitional clarity, retroactivity (whether the restoration would apply to past elections or only future elections after enactment), and the administrative logistics of restoring voter eligibility.

Note: The bill did not advance beyond committee in the 2025 session.

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