TN HB2185

Voter Eligibility

Passed House William Lamberth (R)
Plain English Summary

Tennessee HB2185 allows the state's election coordinator to create an electronic system by January 1, 2028, to access information from the SAVE program, which verifies the immigration status of individuals. This system would only be implemented if the U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides the necessary data through a secure web service. The bill aims to enhance the verification process for voter eligibility.

Supporters Say

Supporters of HB2185 argue that the bill strengthens the integrity of the voting process by ensuring that only eligible voters can participate. They believe that accessing the SAVE program data will help prevent voter fraud and maintain public confidence in elections.

Critics Say

Critics of HB2185 contend that the bill may lead to unnecessary barriers for eligible voters, particularly among immigrant communities. They argue that reliance on the SAVE program could result in discrimination and disenfranchisement, undermining the democratic process.

Conflict of Interest Analysis Personal Interests
2/10
Risk Level
Low
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Industry Overlap
100%
Personal Conflicts
2 found

The analysis of Representative William Lamberth's personal financial interests in relation to HB2185 reveals a low risk of conflict of interest. The bill pertains to government operations and data privacy, specifically authorizing the creation of an electronic portal for accessing data from the SAVE program. Representative Lamberth's primary occupation as an attorney and his roles in various community and educational boards do not directly align with the bill's subject matter. While he is employed by the State of Tennessee, this connection is too broad and indirect to suggest a conflict, as the bill does not appear to impact his role or provide any direct financial benefit. Similarly, his involvement with Volunteer State Community College does not intersect with the bill's focus on voter eligibility and data verification.

Sponsor's Personal Financial Interests

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

Type Description Industry Source
Occupation Attorney Lawyers/Law Firms AI-researched
Employer Partner at Lamberth, Cifelli, Ellis & Nason, P.A. TN Legislature bio
Business Owner Owner of Lamberth Consulting AI-researched
Board Member Board Member of Sumner County CASA TN Legislature bio
Spouse Employer Spouse employed by Sumner County Schools AI-researched
Employer STATE OF TN Government TN Ethics Commission
Employer SELF EMPLOYED ATTORNEY Lawyers/Law Firms TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner PORTLAND COMMUNITY CHAIRMAN from Jan 2026 to current TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner UNITED WAY SUMNER CO BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2026 to current TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner VOLUNTEER STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2026 to current Education TN Ethics Commission
Occupation Law, GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW TN Ethics Commission
Occupation Law, STATE OF TN TN Ethics Commission
Asset Leadership PAC: LAMBERTH PAC TN Ethics Commission

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.

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About This Analysis

This summary was generated using AI from the bill's official text and metadata. Data sourced from LegiScan and the Tennessee General Assembly. Conflict analysis examines the sponsor's personal financial interests for potential overlaps with the bill's subject matter.