Which States Have Clean Slate Laws in 2026

Fourteen States and D.C. — But the Details Vary Enormously

As of mid-2026, fourteen states and Washington, D.C., have enacted some form of automatic record sealing legislation. The movement has accelerated sharply since Pennsylvania passed the first Clean Slate law in 2018, and more than eighteen million people are now eligible for automated relief.

But "has a Clean Slate law" doesn't mean the same thing in every state. Some states are fully operational with millions of records already sealed. Others signed legislation that won't take effect for years. The differences in eligible offenses, waiting periods, and exclusions are significant enough that a record that qualifies in one state would be permanently excluded in another.

States with Operational or Implementing Automatic Sealing

These states have automated systems actively processing eligible records or are in the implementation phase:

Pennsylvania (Act 56 of 2018) — the original. Automatically seals non-conviction records and summary offenses (misdemeanors carrying a maximum 90-day sentence) after 10 crime-free years. The state processed over 30 million records in its initial implementation wave.

Utah (2019) — automatically expunges acquittals, dismissals, and qualifying misdemeanors. Drug possession convictions are eligible after a clean period. The Bureau of Criminal Identification runs automated reviews.

Michigan (2021) — seals eligible misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years. Coverage is limited to offenses that would have qualified under the state's petition-based expungement statute.

New Jersey (2020) — automated sealing for eligible marijuana and hashish offenses, with broader Clean Slate provisions phased in for other offenses.

Connecticut (2023) — seals eligible misdemeanor and Class D/E felony convictions automatically. Cannabis convictions received accelerated processing.

Delaware (2024) — automated expungement for qualifying misdemeanors and certain non-violent felonies.

Minnesota (2025) — one of the broadest implementations. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension began automated expungements in June 2025, with the historical backlog more than 98% cleared by July 2026. Cannabis records were expunged through separate 2024–2026 sweeps.

Virginia (2026) — the Clean Slate Act entered implementation on July 1, 2026. State agencies are building electronic transmission systems. Covers specified misdemeanors, marijuana possession, and non-convictions. Excludes violent crimes, sex offenses, firearms-involved felonies, and Class 1–4 felonies.

New York (effective November 2024) — eligible misdemeanors seal 3 years post-sentencing or release; felonies after 8 years. The Unified Court System has a three-year implementation window through November 2027 to build the automated infrastructure linking courts and corrections databases.

States with Enacted Laws Pending Implementation

Illinois (signed January 16, 2026) — automated sealing scheduled to begin in 2029. The state is tackling a massive back docket: records from 1970 through 2028 will be sealed in three waves through 2032. Private background check companies will be barred from accessing sealed dockets.

Missouri (signed July 9, 2026) — automated sealing of eligible nonviolent drug offenses begins January 1, 2027. Requires 1 year crime-free for misdemeanors and 3 years for felonies, with all court terms, restitution, and supervision fully completed.

Oklahoma (HB 3316 and SB 2030) — revised timeline requires the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to establish a free online request portal by November 1, 2026, and full automated processing by November 1, 2027.

Colorado (2022) — enacted automatic sealing for certain offenses, with implementation phased over several years.

States Where Legislation Failed or Was Vetoed

Not every attempt at Clean Slate reform has succeeded:

Maine — Legislative Document 1911 was vetoed by the Governor on April 24, 2026, with the veto sustained on April 29, 2026. Maine continues to rely on its 2024 petition-based sealing law for offenses committed before January 30, 2017.

What Automatic Sealing Actually Does

In states that have implemented it, automatic sealing generally removes eligible records from public-facing databases and court portals, while law enforcement agencies retain access. Whether employers, landlords, or licensing boards may access or consider a sealed record depends on the jurisdiction and applicable licensing or disclosure rules.

What automatic sealing does not do is instantly scrub every database that has ever contained your information. Commercial background screening companies — the ones employers and landlords actually use — pull from their own purchased data, not from the state repository in real time. A record that's been sealed in the state system can persist in commercial databases indefinitely until someone disputes it.

Verifying Your Record After Automatic Sealing

If you live in a state with an operational Clean Slate system, don't assume your record has been cleared just because you meet the eligibility criteria. Verify it:

1. Order a current copy of your state criminal history from the state repository
2. Request your file from at least one major commercial screening company (Checkr, Sterling, HireRight — they must provide a file disclosure under the FCRA; if you've received a pre-adverse action notice within the last 60 days, the disclosure must be free)
3. If either still shows the sealed record, dispute it with documentation

The Record Self-Audit Toolkit provides state-by-state instructions for obtaining your official rap sheet and templates for disputing stale records that should have been sealed.