Clean Slate Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
Introduced
Summary
Automatic sealing of many federal nonviolent and marijuana-related records would create a federal system that automatically seals certain arrests and convictions after people finish their sentence and offers a petition route for additional eligible nonviolent convictions.
Show full summary
- Families and individuals: People arrested but not charged have related records sealed automatically 180 days after the arrest and acquittals seal automatically 60 days after acquittal. Covered federal marijuana and other nonviolent convictions seal automatically once all sentence terms are complete.
- Employers and workers: Sealed records are excluded from most background checks and employers are immune from liability for claims tied to sealed portions of an employee's record.
- Courts, agencies, and public safety: District courts must publish annual, disaggregated reports on sealing petitions and the Attorney General must issue rules to implement sealing and ensure pre-enactment records are sealed within two years. Unauthorized disclosure of sealed records can bring fines or up to one year in prison.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
How to petition to seal federal records
If enacted, eligible people could file a federal sealing petition one year after finishing their sentence. The court would normally decide within 180 days, unless the petitioner agrees to delay. Magistrate judges may handle petitions and parties would have 14 days to object to findings. The court must notify the U.S. Attorney, and the U.S. Attorney must try to notify victims. Petitioners could seek subpoenas. If denied, a petitioner could not refile the same claim for two years. The Administrative Office must publish a universal form and a simple fee-waiver for indigent petitioners. Each district court would report annually on petitions and outcomes and break data down by race, ethnicity, gender, and offense type.
Who can see sealed records
If enacted, sealed federal records generally would not show up on background checks. Law enforcement and courts could still access sealed records for investigations or prosecutions. Certain jobs could still require access, including police, national-security or high-risk federal posts, firearms or explosives work, and some controlled-substance roles. A covered person generally would not have to disclose sealed records and would be shielded from some perjury or false-statement charges. Unauthorized disclosure could lead to a fine or up to one year in jail. The courts or Justice Department could contract with tech groups to build systems that seal records and control access.
Who is covered and automatic sealing
If enacted, the bill would define who is a "covered individual" for federal sealing. It would require courts to order records sealed one year after a covered person finishes every part of their sentence for certain federal marijuana or other nonviolent convictions. If a covered person is acquitted or exonerated, records would seal within 60 days. If arrested and charges are not filed, records would seal on day 180. The Attorney General would have to make rules so federal agencies automatically seal records required by the law.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Cosponsors
Rand Paul
KY • R
Sponsored 5/1/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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