May 14, 2025
A Florida Representative has submitted a new bill to help streamline expungement of low-level offenses. According to the bipartisan federal legislation, it would assist state-side automatic record-sealing and expungement efforts.
The bill is the Fresh Start Act of 2025, which Representatives Laurel Lee and Sydney Kamlager-Dove sponsor. According to the bill’s sponsors, many individuals struggle with administrative costs and barriers to expunge even eligible low-level records. Unfortunately, these records can continue to pose significant barriers for individuals in attaining employment or housing. Many opportunities may remain unavailable as long as these records exist.
These concerns led to Representatives Lee and Kamlager-Dover creating the Fresh Start Act of 2025. A Republican Florida congresswoman will sponsor this legislation to help states streamline the process of sealing or expunging records for low-level crimes. According to the congresswoman, this step is part of the bipartisan Fresh Start Act introduced in Capitol Hill.
The legislation would help to speed up the expungement process, helping people with criminal records improve their lives. However, the Fresh Start Act includes stipulations for states to adhere to before acquiring federal support. For example, it would require states to report the number of people eligible for sealing or expunging their records. Other steps include reporting how many people have sealed or expunged their records and how many have submitted applications to the Attorney General that are still pending.
These statistics would need to be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender when submitted to the Attorney General. Any information not immediately available must become available within a year of receiving the grant. Representative Lee is the lead sponsor of the Fresh Start Act of 2025. In the House, she declared the following:
“Nearly one-third of Americans have a criminal record that can prevent them from getting a job, finding housing, or pursuing education—even when they qualify for record-sealing or expungement.” She also explained how “the Fresh Start Act of 2025 modernizes and streamlines these processes for states, helping more individuals access the opportunities they’ve earned.”
The Judiciary Committee must hear and review the Fresh Start Act of 2025 before it can move forward. Should the Act pass, it could help many Florida residents obtain more employment, housing, and education opportunities. Until then, employers can help impacted individuals in other ways.
Employers could determine whether any criminal offenses are relevant to the job. This process is a second-chance employment program. The best way to begin is to partner with an experienced background check company.
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