SB 230: Police and court records; expungement of records, delayed effective date.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Expungement of police and court records. Permits the expungement of police and court records relating to an initial charge when a person is arrested, charged, summonsed, or indicted for the commission of an infraction, a crime, or a civil offense and such person is not ultimately convicted, provided that no stipulation of facts sufficient to find guilt was entered or the court did not determine the facts sufficient to find guilt but deferred adjudication or disposition to a later date. The bill also permits that a petition may request expungement of the police and court records for multiple charges arising out of separate transactions or occurrences. The bill also provides that if a person was the subject of a delinquency or traffic proceeding and was not ultimately adjudicated delinquent or convicted, provided that no stipulation of facts sufficient to find guilt was entered or the court did not determine facts sufficient to find guilt but deferred adjudication or disposition to a later date, such matter is eligible for expungement. Lastly, the bill (i) allows certain deferred dispositions to be eligible for expungement; (ii) requires the attorney for the Commonwealth, if he files an objection to the petition for expungement, to include the factual basis for such objection; (iii) provides that the unavailability of certain information shall not be a basis for refusing expungement; (iv) requires the court, if it finds potential manifest injustice to the petitioner, to order expungement; (v) provides that the existence of a prior conviction alone shall not be a sufficient basis to deny an expungement; (vi) allows any person whose petition for relief is the subject of an appeal to proceed under a pseudonym pursuant to relevant law; and (vii) allows specifically identified emergency or preliminary protective orders to be expunged. The bill has a delayed effective date of December 1, 2026.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. April 13, 2026Governor's recommendation received by Senate
2. March 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
3. March 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
4. March 13, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB230)
5. March 12, 2026Signed by President
6. March 12, 2026Signed by Speaker
7. March 12, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB230ER)
8. March 12, 2026Enrolled
9. March 6, 2026House substitute agreed to by Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)
10. March 4, 2026Fiscal Impact Review From JLARC (3/4/2026 8:17 pm)
11. March 4, 2026Passed House with substitute (84-Y 15-N 0-A)
12. March 4, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substitute

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history