Expungement Amendments
HB 297 amends Utah's expungement laws to clarify and update procedures for clearing criminal records. It defines key terms (like "automatic expungement"), modifies which offenses are ineligible for automatic expungement (excluding some drug offenses), and requires that a "certificate of eligibility" be valid at the time of filing a petition. The bill also updates rules for notifying the state criminal records agency, adjusts venue for expungement petitions, and aligns with related laws about offender registries. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible criminal records seeking to expunge convictions or arrests, particularly those involving sex offenses, child abuse, or protective orders.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025
Signed Mar 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #1
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Mar 26, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was updated to reflect its final 'Enrolled' status, including a change in the effective date from February 4, 2025, to May 7, 2025, and the addition of a coordination clause to resolve potential conflicts with another bill (S.B. 41). The substantive policy content regarding expungement definitions, eligibility criteria, and procedures remains consistent between the two versions.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on modifying Utah's expungement laws; however, the addition of a coordination clause ensures it works correctly if passed alongside S.B. 41.
TIMELINE
The effective date of the bill was changed from February 4, 2025, to May 7, 2025.
TECHNICAL
A coordination clause was added to address potential legal conflicts if this bill and S.B. 41 both become law.
Minor formatting and line break adjustments were made throughout the text to finalize the bill for signature.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
39
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Mar 26, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 8, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Mar 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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