misdemeanor expungement; requirements; procedure

SB 1168 allows individuals convicted of most misdemeanors in Arizona to petition courts for expungement (sealing of records) starting January 1, 2026, after meeting specific conditions. To qualify, petitioners must wait three years post-sentence/probation, have no prior expungements or pending cases, and pay all fines/restitution. If approved, courts seal all conviction records, require law enforcement to withhold them except by court order, and notify victims of the petition. This change lets eligible individuals legally state they were not convicted for the offense in most future contexts, such as job applications. The bill does not apply to certain offenses listed in other statutes or to people convicted of felonies alongside misdemeanors.