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HB 360

Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement (Clean Slate Act of 2026)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Debra Davis and 3 co-sponsors

Maryland bill establishes automated criminal record expungement for eligible convictions, eliminating manual petition requirements and expanding access to record clearing.

Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 360

Legislative bill overview

HB 360, Maryland's Clean Slate Act of 2026, establishes an automated expungement system that allows eligible individuals to have certain criminal convictions automatically sealed from public records without requiring manual petitions. The bill streamlines the process by removing the need for individuals to navigate the court system themselves, making criminal record relief more accessible to qualified applicants.

Why is this important

Automatic expungement addresses a significant barrier to rehabilitation and reemployment for individuals with criminal histories. By eliminating the procedural burden of filing expungement petitions, the bill could dramatically increase the number of people who benefit from record sealing, improving employment prospects, housing access, and social reintegration while reducing recidivism. This also reduces administrative burden on courts currently handling thousands of individual expungement petitions annually.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "eligible" offenses: Disagreement likely exists over which conviction types qualify for automatic expungement (violent crimes, sexual offenses, and serious felonies are typical exclusions, but the scope remains contentious)
  • Public safety versus rehabilitation: Law enforcement and victim advocacy groups may argue that automatic sealing hampers criminal background checks, while reform advocates counter that rehabilitation should be prioritized after sentences are served
  • Implementation costs: Questions about funding for the automated system infrastructure and whether the savings from reduced court petitions offset technological implementation expenses

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

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