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Bill

HB 1973

Suffrage; restore to Stephen Roy Sims of Forrest County.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Percy Watson

Mississippi bill to restore voting rights to Stephen Roy Sims of Forrest County died in Senate committee after House passage.

Died In Committee
#judiciaryb #judiciary #divisionb
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Bill Summary · HB 1973

Legislative bill overview

HB 1973 is a private bill introduced in Mississippi that seeks to restore voting rights to Stephen Roy Sims of Forrest County. The bill passed the House on March 20, 2025, but was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Division B, where it ultimately died in committee on April 3, 2025.

Why is this important

Voting rights restoration bills address individuals who have lost suffrage rights, typically due to felony convictions. Such legislation raises questions about criminal justice rehabilitation, redemption, and civic participation after individuals have served their sentences. Private bills like this reflect broader national debates about disenfranchisement policies and second chances.

Potential points of contention

  • Nature of the conviction: The bill does not specify Sims' underlying offense, which could affect public perception and legislative support for restoration
  • Due process concerns: Questions may arise about whether individual private bills are the appropriate mechanism versus establishing general restoration criteria
  • Precedent setting: Approving one individual's restoration could generate requests from others seeking similar relief, raising consistency and fairness questions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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