Illinois2026Active

HB0007

HB0007: Changes to Expungement Rules for Class 3 and 4 Felonies

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 10:00 AM

In one sentence

This bill removes the requirement that people must have served in the military to get a certificate of expungement for certain felonies, while adding domestic violence crimes as offenses that cannot be expunged.

Removes the rule requiring applicants to have served in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard with an honorable discharge to receive a certificate of expungement.
Adds specific domestic violence offenses, such as aggravated assault and violation of an order of protection, to the list of crimes that cannot be expunged.
Requires circuit courts to automatically destroy arrest records and court records for Class 3 or Class 4 felonies once a certificate is issued by the Prisoner Review Board.
Amends the Criminal Identification Act to update definitions related to charges not initiated by arrest and what counts as a conviction.

People in Illinois with convictions for Class 3 or Class 4 felonies who seek expungement of their records.
The Prisoner Review Board, which issues certificates of expungement under the Unified Code of Corrections.
Circuit courts responsible for processing and destroying criminal records after a certificate is issued.

The text does not state when the new laws will take effect or if they apply to cases that happened before the change.
The full list of domestic violence offenses included in the ban is defined by another law, which is referenced but not fully detailed here.

Plain language

Expunge: To physically destroy records or remove a person's name from official indexes so the public cannot see them.
Certificate of Expungement: An official document issued by the Prisoner Review Board that allows certain criminal records to be cleared.
Class 3 and Class 4 Felonies: Specific categories of serious crimes in Illinois law for which this bill changes expungement rules.

Official record

Source attached

CRIM ID-EXPUNGEMENT