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119-hr-3111119th Congress

Fresh Start Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would push states to adopt and implement _automatic expungement_ systems and to report detailed outcomes to the Attorney General as a condition for certain Brady Act grants.

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  • People with eligible records would see sealing or expungement happen without any action by the person and without delay for unpaid fines or fees under the bill's definition of a "covered expungement law."
  • States would have to meet new annual reporting rules to qualify for relevant Brady Act grant funding. Reports must follow Attorney General guidelines and include plans to fill any missing data within one year.
  • Courts and law enforcement could still have access to expunged or sealed material if a state law permits continued access.
  • The Attorney General would publish a public yearly report compiling state submissions. Reports must show counts of people eligible, records sealed or expunged, and pending applications, each disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

State grants tied to automatic record clearing

States would need an automatic expungement or sealing law to get this grant. Automatic means eligible people would not have to file anything. The law could still let courts and police see sealed records as the State allows. Expungement could not be delayed because someone owes fees or fines. These rules would start upon enactment.

Annual public reports on expungements

States that get the grant would report each year on expungement. They would report how many people are eligible, how many records are cleared each year, and how many applications are pending. Data must be broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender. If data are missing, the State would submit a plan within one year after the first grant year. The Attorney General would publish the data within one year of enactment and every year after.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/2/2026

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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