WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 3111 · 119th Congress

Fresh Start Act of 2025

IntroducedCrime and Law Enforcement
IntroducedApr 30, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Apr 30, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. From Iowa: Mariannette Miller-Meeks cosponsors it. It would change 1 section of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

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H.R. 3111 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Apr 30, 2025).

34 U.S.C. 40302

What the words would change: every change, in place (4)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 34 U.S.C. 40302(b)(1)(C)a new sectionchangedby H.R. 3111 Sec. 2(1)

    The bill says: in subparagraph (C), by striking "and" at the end;

  2. 34 U.S.C. 40302(b)(1)(D)a new sectionchangedby H.R. 3111 Sec. 2(1)

    The bill says: in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and

  3. 34 U.S.C. 40302(b)(1)a new sectionadded (E)by H.R. 3111 Sec. 2(1)

    (E) to implement a covered expungement law.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  4. 34 U.S.C. 40302(b)a new sectionadded (3)by H.R. 3111 Sec. 2(2)

    (3) Covered expungement laws.— In this subsection:(A) The term "automatic" means, with regard to the expungement or sealing of a criminal record, that such expungement or sealing occurs without any action required on the part of the State from an eligible individual.(B) The term "covered expungement law" means a law of a State providing for the automatic expungement or sealing, subject to such requirements as the State may impose (including provisions ensuring continued access to the expunged or sealed material by courts and law enforcement agencies), of a criminal record of an individual, without delay by reason of a failure to pay a fee or fine.(4) Reporting requirements.—(A) In general.— A State receiving a grant under this section shall report to the Attorney General, each year of the grant term, pursuant to guidelines established by the Attorney General, information regarding the following:(i) The number of individuals eligible for automatic expungement or sealing under the covered expungement law of that State, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.(ii) The number of individuals whose records have been expunged or sealed annually since the enactment of such law, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.(iii) The number of individuals whose application for expungement or sealing under such law are still pending, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.(B) Inaccessibility of data for reporting.— In the event that elements of the data on expungement and sealing required to be reported under subparagraph (A)(i) are not able to be compiled and reported, the State shall develop and report a comprehensive plan to obtain as much of the unavailable data as possible not later than the date that is one year after the first year of the grant being awarded.(C) Publication.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and each year thereafter, the Attorney General shall publish, and make available to the public, a report containing the data reported to the Attorney General under this subparagraph.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

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Fresh Start Act of 2025

This bill allows grants under the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to be used to implement a state law that provides for the automatic expungement or sealing of certain criminal records.

NCHIP grants support efforts by state and tribal governments to enhance the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and ensure the implementation of effective background check systems.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Apr 30, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. Apr 30, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 3 recorded actions

Cosponsors

From Iowa

Everyone else (13)

  • Don Bacon R-NE-2
  • Joyce Beatty D-OH-3
  • Dan Crenshaw R-TX-2
  • Scott Franklin R-FL-18
  • Sydney Kamlager-Dove D-CA-37
  • Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large
  • Morgan McGarvey D-KY-3
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Frank Pallone, Jr. D-NJ-6
  • John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
  • Mary Gay Scanlon D-PA-5
  • Emilia Strong Sykes D-OH-13
Show 1 more cosponsors
  • Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7