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HD 1788

An Act requiring clean slate automated record sealing

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 20 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill automates criminal record sealing for eligible individuals after waiting periods, removing barriers to employment and housing without requiring manual court petitions.

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Bill Summary · HD 1788

Legislative bill overview

HD 1788 establishes an automated system for sealing criminal records of individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria, eliminating the need for individuals to manually petition courts. The bill creates a "clean slate" mechanism where eligible records are automatically sealed after waiting periods without requiring individual action or court hearings.

Why is this important

Automatic record sealing removes barriers to employment, housing, and other opportunities for people with prior convictions who have demonstrated rehabilitation. Manual petition systems often fail because individuals lack knowledge of the process, resources to navigate courts, or ability to pay filing fees—meaning even eligible people remain burdened by public records indefinitely.

Potential points of contention

  • Public access concerns: Critics may argue that automatic sealing without court review reduces public transparency and potentially conceals information relevant to community safety, victim advocacy, or certain professions
  • Implementation costs and complexity: Courts would need new IT infrastructure and personnel to identify eligible records and execute automated sealing, raising budget questions during fiscal constraints
  • Eligibility criteria disputes: Disagreement likely over which offenses qualify for sealing, waiting periods, and whether certain professions (law enforcement, education, childcare) should have exceptions to access sealed records

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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