Leader Lambreth, sponsor of House Bill 69, told the committee the bill "requires the secretary of state, the coordinator of elections, to create a portal" that would verify whether a registrant is a U.S. citizen and whether the person is a convicted felon whose rights have not been restored.

Lambreth said the measure responds to documented incidents in which convicted felons registered and voted. "There were 15 convicted felons that voted in Sumter County over the last couple of years," he said, and noted some prosecutions involved convictions decades old. He said the portal is meant to prevent inadvertent improper registrations and prosecutions of people who may not know their rights-restoration status.

Representative Dixie asked whether a rights restoration carries across counties; Lambreth said a separate bill addresses that but that once rights are restored they remain restored regardless of subsequent moves. Representative Mitchell asked whether the coordinator would have a duty to report known crimes; Lambreth said the bill is designed “to prevent the crime” and that the coordinator (Mark Goins, mentioned by name) already coordinates reporting with local registrars.

The committee approved amendments during the hearing and then voted to send the amended House Bill 69 to Transportation; the clerk recorded 16 ayes and 2 nays.

Why it matters: The bill would create an automated check at registration to filter out ineligible registrants, shifting some verification to a system maintained by the secretary of state’s office. The bill’s language and related legislation about rights restoration will shape how record matches are handled and whether prior convictions long ago continue to affect eligibility.

What’s next: HB69 moves to the Transportation Committee; related rights-restoration clarifications were discussed as separate legislation.