Bill · H.R. 3111· House(119-HR-3111)
Fresh Start Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 4/30/2025
- Last activity
- 4/30/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Laurel Lee
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 9
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Fresh Start Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. It aims to establish grants for States to modernize criminal justice data infrastructure. The goal of this modernization is to facilitate automated record sealing and expungement. Specifically, it addresses "covered expungement laws" that allow for the automatic process of expunging or sealing criminal records. These laws must ensure the process occurs without requiring action from an eligible individual and without delay due to unpaid fees or fines.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill promotes racial equity by requiring the collection and publication of expungement data disaggregated by race and ethnicity.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+4
The bill benefits low-income households by preventing unpaid fines or fees from delaying the expungement of criminal records.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?+4
The bill facilitates the automatic sealing or expungement of criminal records to help individuals move past their legal history.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Automated Record Management: The bill introduces the concept of "automatic" expungement or sealing, which means the process occurs without requiring any action from an eligible individual (Section 2, paragraph 3(A)).
-
Removal of Financial Barriers: Under a "covered expungement law," the sealing or expungement of a criminal record must happen without delay caused by a failure to pay a fee or fine (Section 2, paragraph 3(B)).
-
Data Transparency: The Attorney General is required to publish annual reports containing data regarding the number of eligible individuals and those whose records have been expunged or sealed, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender (Section 2, paragraph 4(A) and 4(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Continued Access by Authorities: Even when a record is expunged or sealed under these laws, the state may impose requirements that ensure courts and law enforcement agencies still have access to the material (Section 2, paragraph 3(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Women+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform+4Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- 7/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/30/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Dan CrenshawRepublican · Texas
Scott FranklinRepublican · Florida
Sydney Kamlager-DoveDemocrat · California
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Frank PalloneDemocrat · New Jersey
John RutherfordRepublican · Florida
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia