CHICAGO — A bill that could have sealed thousands of nonviolent criminal records across Illinois failed to pass before the state legislature adjourned on May 31 — but its sponsors say they aren’t giving up.
The Clean Slate Act — officially Senate Bill 1784 — would have required automatic sealing of eligible nonviolent criminal records for individuals who remained conviction-free for a defined waiting period. It received bipartisan support in the House but never made it to a Senate vote.
According to CWB Chicago, the bill was sidelined in part because its Senate sponsor, Sen. Elgie Sims, was tied up finalizing Illinois’ $55.2 billion state budget — which took precedence as the session’s deadline approached.
A Bill with Broad Support, But No Time Left
State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), who spearheaded the legislation, said this was the third time the Clean Slate Act has stalled, despite growing bipartisan backing and a coalition of law enforcement and business support behind it.
“It wasn’t that the bill didn’t have enough sponsors,” Gordon-Booth said, noting that Sims’ priority as budgeteer delayed Senate momentum. “It’s a personal project. I remain optimistic about getting it done during veto.”
The act passed the House with an 81-28 vote, including support from five Republicans — a sign of how criminal justice reform efforts are building across political lines.
Why It Matters: Jobs, Housing, and Second Chances
Supporters say the legislation would eliminate the need for people to petition individually to clear their records, which is currently a slow and costly process.
The nonprofit Clean Slate Illinois estimates it would take 154 years to manually clear the existing backlog under current petition-based rules.
Advocates argue the bill is more than just administrative reform — it’s about access to jobs, housing, and education.
“People with records can’t even work at McDonald’s or the park district,” said Algie Crivens III, of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments. “But the rich and powerful can move through life with records. There’s a failure in America.”
Gordon-Booth has long worked on expungement access. She recalled her first “expungement summit” in Peoria in 2017, where hundreds lined up in the rain to seek legal help — including one man, age 76, who said his life might have turned out differently if he’d had help 50 years earlier.
Cost Concerns vs. Long-Term Savings
Not everyone agreed with the proposal. Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) voted no, citing fears about long-term funding and whether local governments would absorb the cost. He warned implementation could cost up to $18 million, based on figures from DuPage County.
But others, like Paul Rothschild of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, countered that automation would pay for itself by lowering future public costs tied to poverty and unemployment.
What’s Next for the Clean Slate Act?
Gordon-Booth said the upcoming fall veto session offers another shot at passing the bill — especially if lawmakers are called back due to federal budget uncertainty, which could open the door for renewed talks.
“We’re in a good position,” she said. “It’s going to get done — and we’re going to have a great bill signing.”
In the meantime, advocacy groups are encouraging supporters to call their senators and push for action before the end of 2025.
Should Illinois Automate the Expungement Process?
Do you think the Clean Slate Act deserves another shot this fall? Share your thoughts in the comments below — your voice helps shape public policy at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
