Subcommittee advances overhaul of felony voting-rights restoration; critics say bill raises barriers

Subcommittee members voted 7-2 on March 25 to send House Bill 4 45, a measure that would create a single judicial petition process for restoring voting rights after a felony conviction and separate restoration of gun rights from voting-rights restoration.

Supporters said the bill resolves confusion the courts created after the Tennessee Supreme Court’s decision in Falls v. Goins and standardizes the process statewide.

Representative Hulsey, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal ‘‘streamlines the process for restoration of voting rights’’ and separates gun rights from other rights so courts may restore voting rights without restoring firearms rights. Hulsey said existing disqualifications — for crimes such as murder, treason, official misconduct, certain crimes against minors and voter fraud — would remain and that petitioners must show they have paid restitution, court costs and…