Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) and Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) have introduced the “Fresh Start Act of 2025,” legislation aimed at helping states modernize their criminal justice data infrastructure to facilitate automatic expungement and sealing of eligible criminal records.
The bill establishes a grant program under which the attorney general may award up to $5 million to each eligible state. To qualify, states must have a “covered expungement law” in place, defined as a law providing for the automatic expungement or sealing of criminal records without requiring any action by the individual.
Additionally, to receive a grant, a state’s law must ensure that expungement or sealing is not delayed due to a person’s inability to pay a fine or fee. States must also apply detailing whether a current expungement or sealing system exists, how the proposed infrastructure improvements will support automation, and the estimated number of people who will benefit.
“Americans who have served their time deserve a fair shot to rebuild their lives, which is why we need to do more to remove barriers that stand in the way of their successful reentry,” Van Hollen explained. “By simplifying the process of expunging eligible criminal records, we can give millions of Americans a true second chance to make a positive impact on our communities.”
Blunt-Rochester added that everyone deserves a fair shot at a second chance.
“For millions across America with a criminal record, securing a place to live, a good-paying job, or furthering their education are key to successfully re-entering society,” she stated. “The Fresh Start Act would remove major barriers for tens of millions of Americans after they have served their time.”
The funding may be used in part (no more than 10 percent) for research or planning efforts. The remaining funds must go toward implementing improvements that make record expungement or sealing automatic. Federal funds can cover no more than 75 percent of a project’s total cost.
States receiving grants are required to submit annual reports to the attorney general that include the number of individuals eligible for automatic expungement or sealing, the number of records expunged or sealed since the law’s enactment, and the number of pending applications. All data must be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.
The bill notes that if a state cannot provide some of the required data, it must submit a comprehensive plan by the end of that year to obtain the missing information.
Additionally, the attorney general must publicly release a report each year with the submitted data, starting no later than one year after the law’s enactment.
A 2020 study found that individuals who have their records expunged achieve significantly improved outcomes: within one year, they tend to earn 22% higher wages than projected, and within five years, only 4.2% are convicted of another offense.
“Given the barriers to employment, housing, and higher education that accompany a criminal record, expungement can be a critical factor in whether an individual is able to move past their previous mistakes,” Greg Glod, senior fellow for public safety and criminal justice at Americans for Prosperity, remarked. “Unfortunately, slow, costly, and difficult-to-navigate expungement processes leave many otherwise eligible individuals behind. By providing funding to strengthen state efforts to improve and automate their expungement systems, the Fresh Start Act will help ensure that previously incarcerated individuals are best positioned to reintegrate into their communities successfully.”
Nichole Parisi, CEO of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said her organization supports efforts that enhance public safety while promoting fair and efficient justice.
“The Fresh Start Act reflects a growing recognition that modernizing record clearance processes can reduce recidivism and improve community outcomes,” Parisi stated.
Maritza Perez Medina, director of federal affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, concluded that the bill is “an important bill that can help people overcome the obstacles that come with a criminal record, including barriers to housing, food, and work.
“The drug war has locked too many people out of opportunities to better their lives,” Perez Medina said. “This bill can help change that, and the Drug Policy Alliance is proud to support it.”
Further, Lauren Krisai, executive director of the Justice Action Network, noted that everyone who works hard to rebuild their lives deserves a second chance.
“The Fresh Start Act will help states streamline the implementation of automatic expungement laws, making it easier for people to find employment and contribute to their communities,” Krisai proclaimed.
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Clean Slate Initiative, along with their partners in the Clean Slate National Coalition, are among several organizations supporting the measure, which also authorizes $50 million per year in funding from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
“For far too long, the barriers to employment, housing, and education that follow a criminal conviction have needlessly fueled recidivism, undercut rehabilitation, and eroded public trust in our justice system,” said retired Lt. Diane Goldstein, executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. “By supporting the automatic expungement of eligible criminal records, the Fresh Start Act will make it easier for individuals who have paid their debt to society to positively contribute to their communities. As criminal justice professionals, we know that clean slate initiatives strengthen public safety by reining in the unnecessary collateral consequences that too often deny people a fair chance at reintegration.”