Bill > HB261

This bill mandates that courts automatically expunge, or clear, records of criminal charges under specific conditions without requiring the individual to file a petition. This automatic expungement will occur if a person was charged with a felony, misdemeanor, violation, traffic violation, boating violation, or municipal ordinance violation, and the charge was either dismissed with prejudice (meaning it cannot be brought again), no billed by a grand jury (meaning the grand jury declined to indict), the person was acquitted or found not guilty, or the charge was nolle prossed without conditions (meaning the prosecution dropped the charge without any requirements for the defendant). Crucially, the charge must not have been refiled within 14 days. Individuals whose records are expunged under this bill will not have to pay any associated fees or court costs. However, records of charges that are expunged or pending expungement will remain accessible to attorneys, court officers, and the court itself for use in any civil matters related to those charges, though references to the charges will be removed from public records once the expungement is finalized. This act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.