CHICAGO – A “clean slate” bill backed by state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, was signed into law on Friday and will expand housing, employment and education opportunities for Illinoisans. The legislation creates an automatic sealing process for thousands of non-violent arrest records, which will automatically seal many minor criminal records, ensuring these records are accessible only to law enforcement, prosecutors and sensitive employers, such as daycares and schools.
“More than 2 million Illinoisans continue to be excluded from quality housing, a good-paying job and needed child and healthcare services because of mistakes made decades ago: this represents a critical loophole in our restorative justice system,” Andrade said. “Creating an automatic records sealing process for minor and low-level offenses, we can truly provide the second chance that these individuals fought hard for and deserve. The ‘Clean Slate’ Act is another, in a series, of steps Illinois is taking to create new opportunities for those that have served their time and paid their debt to society.”
The Andrade-backed House Bill 1836, known as the Clean Slate Act, will automatically seal many minor criminal records, ensuring these records are accessible only to law enforcement. Arrests resulting in an acquittal or dismissal will be sealed immediately, while misdemeanor convictions will be sealed after two years. The most serious felonies, domestic abuse convictions, and other violent crimes against persons will not be eligible for sealing.
The Clean Slate Act was signed into law by Governor Pritzker today and will take effect on June 1, 2026.