Clean Slate Act: IL House passes bill to automatically seal nonviolent felony records, sends plan to Senate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House passed a monumental plan Friday to automatically seal records for people convicted of nonviolent felonies.

Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth celebrates the House passage of the Clean Slate Act on May 30, 2025.

Felony convictions currently eligible for expungement could be automatically sealed by a circuit court judge or the Illinois State Police.

Lawmakers passed legislation in 2017 to allow certain offenders with nonviolent felony convictions to apply for expungement. Although, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) said each of the state's 102 counties has addressed the record sealing process differently.

Gordon-Booth stressed it is past time for a streamlined system to open doors to job opportunities and allow people who served time to rebuild their lives.

"We have over two million people in Illinois that are living with old criminal records, keeping them locked out of our state's economy," Gordon-Booth said. "Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in this country and one of the highest in the Midwest region. Old criminal records reduce the likelihood of finding a job. They depress wages, and it causes an early exit from the labor market."

House Republicans argued this legislation could cost the state $18 million to implement. However, Gordon-Booth said there are multiple numbers floating and the exact cost won't be known until closer to the effective date in 2028.

"We're either going to be doing one of two things if this isn't funded," said Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). "We're either going to be sending a large unfunded mandate to our counties or we're making a promise to 2.1 million people that will not be fulfilled."

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Illinois Manufacturers' Association support the proposal. It is also rare to see law enforcement organizations and grassroots advocates working together to get the clean slate bill across the finish line.

Senate Bill 1784 passed out of the House on a 81-28 vote. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.