SB 1353 - HB 1395
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 7, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Christine Drescher | Email: christine.drescher@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 1353 - HB 1395
SUMMARY OF BILL: Establishes that a person’s right of suffrage be restored at the
expiration of the sentence imposed for an infamous crime and after the county administrator of
elections verifies with the Coordinator of Elections that the person is eligible to register. Requires
either the pardoning authority, the warden or an agent or officer of the incarcerating authority, or
the parole officer, probation officer, or another agent or officer of the supervising authority issue a
person convicted of an infamous crime a certificate of voting rights restoration upon completion of
their sentence.
Removes the requirement that a person have all restitution, court costs, or child support paid prior
to having their right of suffrage restored.
Allows for a person’s right of suffrage to be restored without having their full rights of citizenship
also restored.
Requires the Department of Correction (DOC) to communicate with the Secretary of State (SOS) at
least twice per month to provide a list of newly eligible voters. Requires the SOS to then
communicate that eligibility with the appropriate county administrator of elections.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-20-112, upon conviction for any felony the court shall
judge that the defendant is infamous.
• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-29-105(b)(2) prohibits a person who was rendered
infamous after July 1, 1986, by virtue of being convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated
rape, treason, or voter fraud from ever being able to register to vote or to vote. The
proposed legislation does not change this permanent prohibition.
• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-29-203 states that a person that has been convicted of
certain crimes that is eligible to apply for a voter registration card and have the right of
suffrage restored is authorized to request a certificate of voting rights restoration.
• The proposed legislation will require a person, who is convicted of an eligible infamous
crime, to be issued a certificate of voting rights restoration upon receipt of a pardon or
completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation.
SB 1353 - HB 1395 2
• It is estimated that the changes to the eligibility of voter registration will increase the
number of restoration documents submitted to the Division of Elections. Any increase will
be handled within existing resources with current personnel.
• The SOS will be able to make necessary changes to its voter registration system and voter
registration forms by utilizing existing resources and without any increase in expenditures.
• Any impact to DOC expenditures is estimated to be not significant.
• The proposed legislation will not have any fiscal impact to the Department of Safety.
• This analysis estimates there will be a one-time enhanced volume of voting registrations
after the passage of the proposed legislation.
• It is assumed the local election staff can accommodate these additional voter registrations
within existing resources. Any fiscal impact incurred by any one county election
commission is considered not significant.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director