Restoration Of Citizenship Rights

Tennessee SB1353 aims to make it easier for individuals who have been convicted of serious crimes to regain their right to vote after they have completed their prison sentence. The bill removes the requirement for these individuals to pay restitution, court costs, or be up to date on child support before their voting rights can be restored. It allows for the restoration of voting rights without needing to restore all other citizenship rights.

TN SB1353 is a senate bill in the Tennessee 114th General Assembly, sponsored by Raumesh Akbari (D), currently “Introduced” since February 6, 2025.

We track 9,160 Tennessee bills this session, 237 of them sponsored by Raumesh Akbari.

Supporters of SB1353 argue that the bill promotes fairness and rehabilitation by allowing individuals who have served their time to participate in the democratic process. They believe it helps reintegrate former offenders into society and acknowledges that voting is a fundamental right that should not be permanently stripped away. This legislation is seen as a step towards a more inclusive democracy.

Critics of SB1353 contend that the bill undermines accountability by allowing individuals convicted of serious crimes to regain voting rights without fulfilling financial obligations like restitution or child support. They argue that this could lead to a lack of responsibility among offenders and question the appropriateness of restoring voting rights without full citizenship rights being reinstated. Opponents fear it may diminish the integrity of the electoral process.

The bill SB1353 aims to restore the right of suffrage for individuals convicted of infamous crimes, removing certain financial obligations as prerequisites for this restoration. The sponsor, Raumesh Akbari, is an attorney and self-employed at Akbari Law, but there are no direct overlaps between her personal financial interests and the bill's subject matter. While her legal background may provide her with insights into civil rights issues, it does not imply a financial gain from the passage of this bill, as it primarily affects the rights of individuals rather than any specific legal or financial industry she is involved in. Additionally, her involvement in various organizations does not indicate any personal financial benefit from the legislation.

Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.

Items marked "AI-researched" are generated from public sources but have not been independently verified. Verified data is sourced from official legislature websites and disclosure filings.