H 1598 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act providing easier and greater access to record sealing

This bill streamlines the process for sealing criminal and juvenile court records in Massachusetts by mandating that relevant agencies seal eligible records within 90 days of becoming eligible. It directly affects individuals with past criminal or delinquent records, as well as their legal representatives, by removing the requirement to obtain a separate court order to access these sealed documents. The legislation also clarifies that juvenile offenses include cases where the minor was charged as a youthful offender. By enforcing strict timelines and simplifying access procedures, the law aims to make the record sealing process more efficient and less burdensome for applicants.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Jun 5, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 25 co-sponsors

Sponsors