VermontS.122025-2026 SessionSenateWALLET

An act relating to sealing criminal history records

Sponsored By: Nader A Hashim (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier expungement paths for old convictions

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law expands who can clear a record. You can get expungement after 5 years for a qualifying conviction if you finished your sentence, have no new convictions, and paid restitution and surcharges unless waived. A 10‑year pathway also exists with no felony in 7 years and no misdemeanor in 5 years. If the conduct is no longer illegal, the court expunges once you complete the sentence and pay amounts due unless doing so is against the interests of justice. For certain burglaries committed at age 25 or younger with no weapon, you can get expungement or sealing after 15 years with no new convictions and restitution paid. In some cases, if the crime was after age 19 and sealing better serves justice, the court may seal instead of expunge.

Faster expungement for young adults

Beginning July 1, 2025, if you were 18–21 at the time of a qualifying crime, your record is expunged within 30 days after you finish your sentence. Expungement waits until restitution and surcharges are paid, unless waived. Records that mix qualifying and nonqualifying offenses are not eligible. The court may deny for good cause.

Quick clearing after acquittal or dismissal

Beginning July 1, 2025, the court seals a record within 60 days after final disposition when there was no probable cause at arraignment, a dismissal before trial, or an acquittal, unless a party objects. If you are acquitted or the charge is dismissed with prejudice, the court expunges within 60 days unless there is an objection. If someone objects, the court holds a hearing to decide if sealing or expungement serves justice. Parties can also agree to sealing or expungement at any time.

What sealing or expungement means for you

When a court expunges your record, it annuls the arrest, conviction, and sentence. You are treated as if never arrested or convicted, and agencies must answer, “NO CRIMINAL RECORD EXISTS.” When a court seals your record, it takes effect right away and you need only answer about unsealed arrests or convictions. Courts must notify VCIC, the arresting agency, the Restitution Unit, and others; VCIC notifies the FBI. Courts remove expunged offenses from public databases, destroy case files when all charges are expunged, and keep a private, limited index. Agencies must tell you that you do not have to disclose sealed or expunged records.

Privacy rules: access limits and penalties

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council must issue a statewide model policy on law‑enforcement access to sealed records by December 15, 2025. Agencies must adopt a policy by March 15, 2026 or they are deemed to use the model. The policy defines allowed access and requires access logs. Any state or local employee, contractor, or court agent who knowingly accesses or shares sealed records without permission can be fined up to $1,000 per violation.

Clearing municipal and traffic violation records

For municipal violations on or after July 1, 2025, the Judicial Bureau marks a case “expunged” two years after you satisfy the judgment if you have no new municipal adjudications. The Bureau notifies the town, limits access to the case, destroys most outside documents, and answers, “NO RECORD EXISTS.” The law also clarifies that expungement of motor vehicle violations applies to violations that occurred on or after July 1, 2021.

DUI records can be sealed after ten years

Beginning July 1, 2025, a single qualifying DUI under 23 V.S.A. § 1201 can be sealed, not expunged, after 10 years. You must have finished the sentence or started indeterminate probation at least 10 years earlier, have no new convictions since, and pay any restitution in full. The court must find sealing serves justice. Commercial drivers face separate limits in this law.

Victims get notice and a voice

Beginning July 1, 2025, when someone files to seal or expunge a record, known victims must be notified. Victims can send a statement to the filer or to the court. The court should not delay the case just to wait for a statement. If a victim cannot be found after reasonable effort, the court can proceed.

Fund to process DUI sealing petitions

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont creates the Criminal History Record Sealing Special Fund. It receives filing fees from petitions to seal certain DUI cases. The Fund helps pay the Court Administrator, prosecutors, DMV, and VCIC to handle these sealings. Balances carry forward each year.

Extra proof for drug and burglary petitions

Beginning July 1, 2025, if you seek expungement because drug possession amounts are now legal, you must prove the amount you had. The affidavit’s amount is presumed correct unless you rebut it. For certain burglary relief, you must prove the conduct was not burglary into an occupied dwelling, and the court must make that finding before granting relief.

Limits and waits on record petitions

Beginning July 1, 2025, if you file and then face a new criminal charge, the court delays your petition until the new case is resolved. If your petition is denied, you must wait two years to file again unless the court allows a shorter wait. Commercial drivers cannot use these sealing or expungement rules for convictions committed in a motor vehicle.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Nader A Hashim
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 12, 2025
6/13/2025House
Signed by Governor on June 12, 2025
6/13/2025Senate
Delivered to Governor on June 6, 2025
6/6/2025Senate
Rules suspended & ordered delivered to Governor forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/30/2025Senate
Senate Message: Report of Committee of Conference adopted
5/30/2025House
As passed by Senate and House
5/30/2025Senate
Committee of Conference report adopted
5/30/2025Senate
Committee of Conference report submitted by Senator Hashim for Committee, text
5/30/2025Senate
Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/30/2025Senate
Committee of Conference report
5/30/2025Senate
Entered on Notice Calendar
5/30/2025Senate
House message: House adopted Conference Committee report
5/29/2025Senate
Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/28/2025House
Committee of Conference report adopted (Senate bill)
5/28/2025House
Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/28/2025House
House message: House appointed Conference Committee members
5/23/2025Senate
Speaker appointed Reps. LaLonde of South Burlington, Burditt of West Rutland, and Dolan of Essex Junction as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
5/23/2025House
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment not concurred in and Committee of Conference appointed
5/23/2025House
Committee of Conference appointed: Senators Hashim, Norris, and Mattos
5/23/2025Senate
House proposal of amendment not concurred in; Committee of Conference requested, on motion of Senator Hashim
5/20/2025Senate
House proposal of amendment; text
5/20/2025Senate
Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Hashim
5/20/2025Senate
House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
5/20/2025Senate
Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/20/2025House
Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/20/2025House

Bill Text

As Enacted (ACT 60)
6/18/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/3/2025
PDF
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/3/2025
PDF
House Proposal of Amendment
5/21/2025
PDF
House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/21/2025
PDF
As Passed by the Senate
3/26/2025
PDF
As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)
3/26/2025
PDF
As Introduced
1/16/2025
PDF

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