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Senate unanimously passes expungement bill shortening waiting period for certain drug offenses
Summary
House Bill 33, which shortens the waiting period to petition for expungement of some drug-possession offenses and requires eligibility checks, passed the Senate by unanimous roll call (29–0).
The Utah Senate voted unanimously on Feb. 14 to advance House Bill 33, a measure that shortens waiting periods and clarifies the expungement process for certain drug-related offenses.
Senator Jay Stevenson, presenting the first substitute, said the bill reduces the waiting period to petition to expunge some felony drug-possession records and requires petitioners to be free of illegal substances and to obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Bureau of Criminal Identification prior to seeking a pardon from the Board of Pardons. “If a person reoffends ever in their lives, those records will still be available for law enforcement,” Stevenson said, emphasizing safeguards.
Several senators rose in support, noting addiction treatment and rehabilitation as reasons to permit a fresh start for qualifying people. Senator Jones called the bill “one of the most important pieces of legislation we will pass this year,” urging compassion for people who complete treatment and rehabilitative steps.
The clerk recorded the vote for House Bill 33 as 29 yay, 0 nay, 0 absent; the bill will be read for the third time in due course and proceed to the House.
Next steps: the Senate ordered the bill for third reading and passage as part of the legislative schedule.
