Committee hears testimony supporting bills to restore voting rights to people on probation and parole; sponsors say bills would allow most on supervision to vot

State Representatives Kimberly‑Ann Collins and Marlon Anderson presented companion bills to the House Committee on Corrections that would restore voting rights to most people on probation or parole.

Representative Kimberly‑Ann Collins, sponsor, told the committee that the bills (identified in the hearing as House Bill 847 and House Bill 790) would permit individuals on probation or parole for felony convictions to vote unless they were convicted of crimes directly related to voting (for example voter fraud or other election‑related offenses). Collins said the bills would reverse the current rule that people lose voting rights until they are fully discharged from their sentence and that the change recognizes that people working and paying taxes in communities should be able to participate civically.

Representative Marlon Anderson said the bills reflect his experience supervising people on probation and parole and that civic engagement can support reintegration. He and Collins told the committee they based the proposals on both policy and individual cases they and others have worked on; Collins cited the case of Bobby Bostic, a person sentenced as a juvenile who returned to the community on long‑term supervision and remains under lifetime supervision in some cases.

The committee heard more than a dozen witnesses in favor. Witnesses included James Robnett, vice chair of the Missouri NAACP’s prisoner assistance committee; Precious Jones, founder of Breaking Generational Poverty and a person who said she had completed 10 years of probation; Anton Washington of Creative Innovative (Kansas City), who said he is an ex‑felon and runs reentry programming; Adolphus Pruitt, president of the Saint Louis City NAACP; Erica Williams, who said she is currently on probation and supports the bills; and representatives of advocacy groups including Kanika Harper of Justice for All, Courtney Allen Curtis of the Saint Louis City NAACP, Sheena Eastburn of Show Me Justice For All, Connor Lubert of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, Sage Quorum of the ACLU of Missouri, Chris Ropi of Secure Democracy USA, and Rasheeda Quarles (witness). Testimony emphasized that restoring voting rights encourages civic reintegration, may reduce recidivism, and aligns Missouri with neighboring states that have expanded participation.

Opposition testimony was limited in number but included remarks from Arnie C. (who identified himself as "state public advocate" in testimony) expressing concern about restoring voting rights before a person is fully discharged; he argued that some felony convictions are serious enough that voting should wait until full discharge. Committee members questioned that witness’s credentials during his appearance; the witness said he had no formal certificate to present. Committee members also asked sponsors and witnesses about how the bills would handle particular cases (for example, prisoners serving long supervision terms and whether restitution or early discharge affects eligibility).

Procedural actions recorded later in the hearing show the committee reconsidered and rolled HB 847 and HB 790 into House Bill 617 and then voted to pass the package. On the final roll call recorded at the end of the transcript, the clerk announced the committee had voted to pass a package described as House Bill 617, HB 847, and HB 790 by a vote reported as 10 ayes and 0 nays.

Why it matters: The bills would change when voting rights are restored for people living under community supervision in Missouri, allowing wider participation in elections. Sponsors said restored access to voting supports reintegration; advocates said the change would reconnect thousands of Missourians to civic life. Opponents raised questions about whether some felony convictions should bar voting until full discharge.

Quotable: "If someone is out in society ... because they're paying their fair share of taxes, they should be able to vote," Representative Kimberly‑Ann Collins told the committee.

Votes and next steps: The committee announced a final passage vote on a vehicle that included HB 847 and HB 790 (rolled into HB 617) and the clerk’s closing announcement recorded that the committee vote on that package was 10–0 in favor. The transcript does not show any subsequent floor action, scheduling, or final lawmaking steps.

Sources and testimony: Dozens of witnesses provided oral testimony in favor and several civil‑rights and reentry organizations submitted written forms; the hearing record lists multiple individual witnesses and organizational affiliations.