SB 88 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Expungement; hearing requirement further provided for

SB 88 amends the legal procedures concerning expungement cases, which involve the sealing or removal of criminal records. The bill specifies that court rulings on expungement matters are subject to appeal or certiorari review. It also sets a standard, stating that such a ruling cannot be reversed without a specific "showing of" (a condition not fully detailed in the provided text). This impacts individuals seeking to clear their criminal records and the judicial process for reviewing these requests.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Signed May 21, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 3 edits · May 21, 2025
MINOR
The bill was finalized as an Enrolled Act, confirming its passage by both the Senate and House. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of the factors courts must consider when deciding whether to grant an expungement, adding the date of the offense, the petitioner's age at the time, whether the crime was isolated or repeated, and evidence of rehabilitation. Additionally, the required waiting period before a hearing was increased from 14 days to 30 days, and the list of parties who must be notified was expanded to include the victim.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding expungement procedures was broadened by requiring courts to evaluate additional personal and historical factors, such as the petitioner's age and rehabilitation efforts, before granting relief.
REQUIREMENT

The mandatory waiting period for a court hearing on an expungement petition was increased from 14 days to 30 days after an objection is filed.

The court must now notify the victim of the hearing date, in addition to the prosecuting authority and the petitioner.

ELIGIBILITY

Courts are now required to consider six new factors when deciding on expungements, including the date of the offense, the petitioner's age at the time, whether the offense was isolated or repeated, and evidence of rehabilitation.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
3
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Orr Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1043
upper
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1224
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1223
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Hill 1st Amendment Offered
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 243
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 242
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary 1st Amendment Offered (Judiciary)
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Judiciary)
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Arthur Orr
Arthur Orr
RRepublican
AL
3