Legis Daily

Fresh Start Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-2590| Senate 
| Updated: 7/31/2025
Chris Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen

Democratic Senator

Maryland

Cosponsors (1)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation establishes a grant program, administered by the Attorney General, to help states modernize their criminal justice data infrastructure. Each eligible state may receive up to $5,000,000 to implement systems that facilitate **automatic record expungement and sealing** of criminal records, meaning the process occurs without requiring action from the individual. To qualify, a state must have a **covered expungement law** in effect that ensures expungement or sealing is not delayed by a failure to pay fees or fines, and its application must describe how the funds will achieve automatic expungement. Grant funds are primarily designated for implementing data infrastructure improvements to enable automatic expungement or sealing, with up to 10% allowed for research and planning. States are required to contribute at least 25% of the implementation costs. Recipients must submit annual reports to the Attorney General, detailing the number of eligible individuals, expunged records, and pending applications, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, with the Attorney General publishing these findings annually. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to fund this program.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3049
Fresh Start Act of 2021
Apr 30, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3111
Introduced in House
Jul 31, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jul 31, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3049
    Fresh Start Act of 2021


  • April 30, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3111
    Introduced in House


  • July 31, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 31, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Fresh Start Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-2590| Senate 
| Updated: 7/31/2025
This legislation establishes a grant program, administered by the Attorney General, to help states modernize their criminal justice data infrastructure. Each eligible state may receive up to $5,000,000 to implement systems that facilitate **automatic record expungement and sealing** of criminal records, meaning the process occurs without requiring action from the individual. To qualify, a state must have a **covered expungement law** in effect that ensures expungement or sealing is not delayed by a failure to pay fees or fines, and its application must describe how the funds will achieve automatic expungement. Grant funds are primarily designated for implementing data infrastructure improvements to enable automatic expungement or sealing, with up to 10% allowed for research and planning. States are required to contribute at least 25% of the implementation costs. Recipients must submit annual reports to the Attorney General, detailing the number of eligible individuals, expunged records, and pending applications, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, with the Attorney General publishing these findings annually. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to fund this program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3049
Fresh Start Act of 2021
Apr 30, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3111
Introduced in House
Jul 31, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jul 31, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3049
    Fresh Start Act of 2021


  • April 30, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3111
    Introduced in House


  • July 31, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 31, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Chris Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen

Democratic Senator

Maryland

Cosponsors (1)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted