Bills · S 2590
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2590Crime and Law Enforcement
Fresh Start Act of 2025
INTRO JUL 31· LAST ACTION JUL 31
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because clearing old criminal records can significantly improve a person's life, helping them find stable jobs and housing and become more productive members of society. Currently, many people who are eligible to have their records cleared don't pursue it due to the complex paperwork, expensive legal fees, or simply not knowing they qualify. By offering grants to states to automate this process, the bill aims to ensure that eligible individuals get a "fresh start" without having to jump through hoops.
If this bill becomes law, more people will likely have their old records cleared automatically, reducing barriers to employment and housing and potentially boosting local economies. If it doesn't become law, many states might continue with outdated systems, leaving countless eligible individuals with lingering disadvantages from past mistakes simply because the manual process is too difficult or costly to navigate.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes a grant program for states, allowing them to apply for federal funds to modernize their criminal justice data systems.
This provides financial incentives and resources for states to update their technology and implement more efficient record-clearing processes.
PROVISION 02
Defines "automatic" expungement or sealing as occurring without any required action from the eligible individual.
This clarifies the bill's intention to remove the burden from individuals and ensure true automation of the record-clearing process.
PROVISION 03
States must have an existing automatic expungement law that does not delay record clearing due to unpaid fees or fines to be eligible for grants.
This ensures that federal funds are directed to states committed to equitable and accessible record-clearing practices.
PROVISION 04
Requires states receiving grants to report annual data on expungements, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.
This helps track the program's effectiveness, identify potential disparities, and ensure accountability.
PROVISION 05
Authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to fund the grant program.
This allocates a significant amount of federal money to support states in modernizing their criminal justice data infrastructure.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
D· Maryland
YRS IN OFFICE
23
BILLS LED
74
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 2 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUL 31
Introduced in Senate
JUL 31
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2590
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJul 31, 2025
Last actionJul 31, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUL 31, 2025
Senate BillS 2590Crime and Law Enforcement
Fresh Start Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JUL 31, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 31, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
