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SB 1055

Expunction - As enacted, reorganizes present statutes concerning expunction and specifies that facilitation, attempt, or solicitation of an offense that is presently eligible for expunction is also eligible for expunction. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 16; Title 38; Title 40; Title 55 and Title 57.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Kerry Roberts

Tennessee expands criminal record expunction eligibility to include attempts, facilitation, and solicitation of expungeable offenses, enabling more people to seal conviction records.

Pub. Ch. 268
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1055

Legislative bill overview

SB 1055 reorganizes Tennessee's expunction statutes and expands eligibility by allowing records related to facilitation, attempt, and solicitation of expungeable offenses to also be expunged. The bill consolidates and clarifies expunction procedures across multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated.

Why is this important

Expunction allows individuals to have criminal records sealed or destroyed, enabling better access to employment, housing, and professional licensing opportunities. This expansion potentially helps more people with attempted or solicited crimes remove conviction records, affecting employment prospects and social reintegration for thousands of Tennesseans annually.

Potential points of contention

  • Victim concerns: Expanding expunctions for attempted or solicited crimes may limit victim awareness of past criminal activity, raising victim advocacy concerns about public safety transparency
  • Law enforcement access: Questions remain about whether police retain access to expunged records and how this affects background checks in sensitive positions (childcare, healthcare, security)
  • Prosecutorial discretion: The broader eligibility may complicate prosecutors' ability to use prior offense patterns in charging decisions, potentially affecting case outcomes

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

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