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Committee reviews broad expungement recodification; bill held for amendment
Summary
Lawmakers and advocates praised expanded juvenile relief and automatic expungement for dismissed cases in HB 1118 but flagged categorical exclusions, prosecutorial gatekeeping and waiting-period language; the bill was held for amendment.
Representative Zimmerman presented House Bill 1118 as a recodification and simplification of Indiana's adult expungement statutes, consolidating multiple existing categories into four and adjusting waiting periods for some felony categories.
Supporters described the bill as an important step to restore rights and reduce long-term harms. Diane Dior Valentina, founding director of Strength Over Struggle, said juvenile provisions and automatic expungement for dismissed arrests would reduce persistent barriers to employment and housing.
Court and defense stakeholders urged technical fixes. Courtney Curtis of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council and representatives of the public-defense community flagged concerns about prosecutorial gatekeeping, waiting periods measured from conviction rather than from release, and the need for limits on repeat expungements. Representative Zimmerman said she planned amendments to address timing (for moderate felonies) and other drafting questions and asked the committee to hold HB 1118 to allow further work.
The committee did not vote; the bill was saved for amendment and further consideration.
