Bill > HB610

This bill modifies Maryland's criminal expungement law by expanding the circumstances under which a person can seek to have a criminal charge removed from their record. Specifically, the bill allows for the expungement of a charge that was not resolved through a definitive conviction, but instead was either (1) disposed of by the court with a "no finding" designation or (2) was part of a case that the court designated as "terminated without finding". In legal terms, a "no finding" means the court did not make a clear determination of guilt, and "terminated without finding" typically indicates that the case was dismissed without a formal conviction. The modification provides additional opportunities for individuals to clear their criminal records in situations where the legal outcome was not a clear-cut guilty verdict. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, giving state legal systems time to prepare for the implementation of this new expungement provision. By broadening the eligibility for record expungement, the bill aims to reduce the long-term legal and social consequences for individuals who have been charged with certain offenses but not conclusively convicted.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0610?ys=2025RS