WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 997

AN ACT REQUIRING THAT CERTAIN EVICTION RECORDS BE SEALED.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Miller

Connecticut bill to seal eviction court records, limiting public and landlord access to improve housing prospects for tenants with eviction history.

CHG. REF., HOUSE TO COMM. ON Judiciary
#eviction #records
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 997

Legislative bill overview

SB 997 would require Connecticut courts to seal eviction records under specified circumstances, preventing public access to these documents. The bill aims to address collateral consequences that eviction records impose on tenants' future housing and employment opportunities. Specific sealing criteria and timelines are established in the legislation.

Why is this important

Eviction records create lasting barriers to housing access—many landlords screen applicants and deny housing based on eviction history, even years after resolution. Sealing records could help tenants rebuild their lives after temporary financial hardship or disputes with landlords. However, landlords and property managers argue they need this information to assess tenant reliability and manage risk.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord access and screening: Property managers contend they need eviction history to make informed leasing decisions and protect their investments from problematic tenants
  • Scope of sealing: Ambiguity over which evictions qualify for sealing (dismissed cases, settled disputes, judgments) and whether landlords retain informal knowledge of past evictions
  • Public record principles: Tension between transparency in judicial proceedings and the privacy/rehabilitation interests of individuals involved in evictions

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

Sign in to ask a question.