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TennesseeHB 0069114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 41 and Title 55, relative to determining voter eligibility.

Sponsored By: William Lamberth (Republican)

Became Law

Election Laws

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Clear 10-day appeal after denial

If the county denies your voter registration based on a citizenship or felony portal check, it must send you written notice. The notice must tell you that you can appeal to the commission. The county must include an appeal form with the notice. You have 10 days from the date the notice is sent to file your appeal.

Expunged records used to check voting

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation must give the election coordinator expunged record information if asked. It can be used only to decide if a person can register to vote or vote.

Felony record checks for voter signups

The election coordinator and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation must create a secure portal by January 1, 2028. Counties use it to see if someone is ineligible to vote because of a Tennessee felony conviction, or is eligible. The portal must give accurate, current answers quickly and handle heavy daily use. A temporary offline method can be used when the portal is down. If a county official uses the portal for other purposes, they lose access; TBI can restore it at its discretion.

Online citizenship checks for voter signups

The election coordinator, with the Department of Safety, must create a secure portal by January 1, 2028. County officials use it before processing a registration to verify if an applicant is a U.S. citizen. It relies on records from the person’s most recent driver license or state ID. The agencies must sign an agreement that sets inputs, results, how to handle no or multiple records, downtime options, and misuse penalties, including cutting access. Information sent through the portal is confidential and not public.

Portals start only with federal funding

The citizenship and felony check portals, and related duties, do not take effect until enough federal grant money is secured. The law intends federal grants to pay for this part.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William Lamberth

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Rebecca K Alexander

    Republican • House

  • Jody Barrett

    Republican • House

  • Rush Bricken

    Republican • House

  • Gino Bulso

    Republican • House

  • Scott Cepicky

    Republican • House

  • Elaine Davis

    Republican • House

  • Clay Doggett

    Republican • House

  • Rick Eldridge

    Republican • House

  • David B. Hawk

    Republican • House

  • Gary Hicks

    Republican • House

  • Dan Howell

    Republican • House

  • Justin Jones

    Democrat • House

  • Justin Lafferty

    Republican • House

  • Aron Maberry

    Republican • House

  • Jake McCalmon

    Republican • House

  • Debra Moody

    Republican • House

  • Bill Powers

    Republican • Senate

  • Shane Reeves

    Republican • Senate

  • Tim Rudd

    Republican • House

  • Paul Sherrell

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Terry

    Republican • House

  • Chris Todd

    Republican • House

  • Dawn White

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason Zachary

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 259 • No: 44

House vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025

Yes: 77 • No: 18

House vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025

Yes: 72 • No: 22

House vote • 4/21/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/21/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 27 • No: 0

House vote • 3/25/2025

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 18 • No: 1

House vote • 3/19/2025

HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 16 • No: 2

House vote • 3/11/2025

HOUSE ELECTIONS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 473

    5/27/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/21/2025

    5/27/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/9/2025House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/8/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/24/2025House

  8. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0138)

    4/21/2025House

  9. H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0139)

    4/21/2025House

  10. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/21/2025House

  11. Passed H., as am., Ayes 77, Nays 18, PNV 0

    4/21/2025House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/21/2025House

  13. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/21/2025Senate

  14. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/21/2025Senate

  15. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0409)

    4/21/2025Senate

  16. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0410)

    4/21/2025Senate

  17. Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0, PNV 1

    4/21/2025Senate

  18. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

    4/17/2025House

  19. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    4/17/2025House

  20. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025

    4/17/2025House

  21. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

    4/17/2025House

  22. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025

    4/16/2025House

  23. Placed behind the budget

    4/9/2025House

  24. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

    4/9/2025House

  25. Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 4/9/2025

    4/2/2025House

Bill Text

  • HA0138 (Substitute)

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • HA0139

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0409

    PDF

  • SA0410

    PDF

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