An act relating to studies of policies and procedures regarding the sealing of criminal history records
This bill directs state officials to study how other states handle sealing criminal history records and create a process for sealing records without requiring a formal petition. The Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee will review different states' rules about how long records must remain open before they can be sealed and who can access sealed records. A separate task force led by the Chief Superior Judge will examine petitionless sealing procedures and recommend a system for sealing records without court petitions. Both groups must submit their recommendations to the legislature by late 2024, and the bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
May 2024
Introduced Jan 5, 2024
Signed May 10, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
42
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Amendments
20
May 10, 2024
Signed into law
Signed by Governor on June 12, 2024
executive
May 10, 2024
Lower · Passed
Delivered to the Governor on June 6, 2024
lower
May 10, 2024
Introduced
Senate Message: House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
lower
May 10, 2024
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
upper
May 10, 2024
Introduced
House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
upper
May 10, 2024
Introduced
House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, text
upper
May 10, 2024
Introduced
House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment
upper
May 9, 2024
Introduced
House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment
upper
May 8, 2024
Introduced
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendment
upper
May 7, 2024
Introduced
Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further amendment thereto, as offered by Rep. Dolan of Essex Junction and LaLonde of South Burlington
lower
May 7, 2024
Introduced
Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
lower
May 6, 2024
Introduced
Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
lower
May 4, 2024
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
lower
May 4, 2024
Introduced
Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
lower
May 2, 2024
Introduced
Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Sears for Committee on Judiciary
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 30, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 26, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 28, 2024
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to
lower
Mar 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
lower
Mar 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Rep. Dolan of Essex Junction reported for the Committee on Judiciary
lower
Mar 22, 2024
Introduced
Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Mar 21, 2024
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Jan 5, 2024
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Karen Dolan
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Rachelson
DDemocratic
Co
Kevin Christie
DDemocratic
Co
Martin LaLonde
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about H 655
Scope: VT
Hi! I can help you understand H 655. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline