Committee advances measures on voting access, campaign platforms and housing; several bills pass, some fail

The Senate State and Local Government Committee met in Nashville on May 1, 2025, and considered a long calendar of committee-member bills, moving several to the full Senate calendar or other committees and rejecting others. The most consequential debates touched on restoring voting rights for people exiting the justice system, a new grant fund for African American historic sites, local-government/developer agreements, rules for online political donation platforms and pilot programs affecting jail voting.

The committee advanced a bill to remove financial barriers for people seeking to restore voting rights after involvement with the justice system. Sponsor Senator Trachberry told the committee that the amendment adopted at the hearing “will simply remove the financial burden for those who seek to restore their right to vote after they have exited the justice system,” and noted the change would remove court costs and allow people who are making child-support payments to apply for restoration. The committee approved that amendment and then passed the bill on a 7–1 roll call (No: Senator Lowe). The bill will move to the Senate calendar.

Lawmakers also approved the African American Cultural and Historical Grant Act, which creates a grant fund to support capital projects that highlight African American contributions and history in Tennessee. The measure directs the Tennessee Historical Commission to administer the fund; money would be provided only if the General Assembly appropriates it or if the commission accepts gifts and grants. Senator Cahill, the sponsor, said the bill prioritizes renovation of existing facilities and listed examples including the Claiborne Temple in Memphis, the Alex Haley House, Fort Pillow State Historic Park and the National Museum of African American Music. The committee passed the bill 7–1 (No: Senator Lowe).

A local-government/developer bill backed by Senator Pote — intended to require that once a written agreement is executed the local government could not impose additional nonessential infrastructure obligations on the developer without agreement — drew opposition from local-government groups. Chad Jenkins of the Tennessee Municipal League…