House Bill 445 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the restoration of citizenship rights for individuals convicted of felonies. Key changes include the substitution of language regarding the restoration of suffrage rights, specifying that individuals must have their right of suffrage restored as prescribed by state law for each felony conviction. The bill also clarifies the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking restoration of their rights, including the requirement to have paid all restitution and court costs, and outlines the process for petitioning the circuit court for restoration.

Additionally, the bill establishes that individuals convicted of certain serious offenses, such as first-degree murder and aggravated rape, are permanently ineligible to have their suffrage rights restored. It also introduces a new definition of "citizenship rights," which encompasses the right to vote, serve on a jury, hold public office, execute fiduciary duties, and possess firearms. The act will take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of restoring citizenship rights while maintaining certain restrictions for serious offenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-2-116, 2-2-139, 2-19-143, 40-29-101, 40-29-102, 40-29-103, 40-29-104, 40-29-105, 40-20-114(b), 40-20-114