Judiciary committee adopts substitute to require public posting of voting-rights restoration instructions

The Judiciary Committee adopted a substitute to SB24 and gave the bill a favorable report, moving it toward the full floor.

Senator Coleman Madison said the substitute narrows the bill to require that the Pardons and Parole Board post instructions explaining how inmates or other eligible individuals can have their voting rights restored, and that the Board send a list of names meeting the criteria to the Secretary of State so both agencies can post the information on their websites.

An unidentified senator moved a favorable report on SB24 and thanked Senator Coleman Madison for advancing the bill, saying, "once you have paid your dues that you should be given all of your rights back." The committee used previous roll and recorded multiple "Aye" votes during the adoption of the substitute and the favorable report.

The committee recorded a formal motion to adopt the substitute (moved by Senator Gavann, seconded by Senator Figures) and later a motion for a favorable report on SB24. With no recorded opposition on the favorable report, the bill will proceed to the next legislative stage.

The hearing did not include statutory citations; the substitute focuses on notification and public access to restoration procedures rather than changing eligibility criteria. Committee members said they would refine technical language before the bill moves to the floor.