AB-2384 • 2026

Crimes: records: sealing.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Lowenthal
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact list of offenses that are excluded from eligibility for record sealing is not provided in the official summary, but it mentions serious or violent felonies and sex offenses.

Sealing Criminal Records

This law allows people who were arrested but not convicted of a crime or those convicted of certain non-violent crimes, to ask the court to seal their records after four years if they have stayed out of trouble during that time.

What This Bill Does

Allows someone who was arrested but never convicted for a crime to ask the court to seal their arrest record after four years without any new convictions.
Permits people who were charged with a crime and not found guilty to petition the court to have those charges sealed from their records after four years if they haven't committed another offense in that time.
Enables individuals convicted of certain non-violent crimes to request sealing of their conviction record after completing their sentence and waiting four years without any new convictions.
Requires law enforcement agencies to seal and destroy their records when a court orders the sealing of criminal records under this law.

Who It Names or Affects

People who were arrested but not convicted of a crime.
Individuals charged with a crime that did not result in conviction.
Those convicted of certain non-violent crimes.
Law enforcement agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records.

Terms To Know

Eligible offense: A crime that meets specific criteria allowing the person involved to petition for record sealing after four years without any new convictions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill excludes serious or violent felonies and sex offenses from being eligible for record sealing.
Local law enforcement agencies will have additional duties to seal records when ordered by the court, which may require state funding.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 55. Noes 18.)
2026-05-19 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 14).
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended.
2026-05-13 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2384, as amended, Lowenthal.
Crimes: records: sealing.
Existing law allows a person who was arrested or convicted of a nonviolent offense while they were a victim of human trafficking to petition the court, under penalty of perjury, for vacatur relief. Existing law requires a court that issues an order for relief pursuant to these provisions to also order specified law enforcement agencies to seal and destroy their records of the offense.
This bill would authorize a person who has suffered an arrest for, or was charged with, any offense that did not result in conviction or who was convicted of an eligible offense, as defined, to petition the court to have their records of that conviction, charge, or arrest sealed if 4 years have elapsed since the date, including, among others, on which the person was arrested, as specified, or on which the defendant completed any terms of incarceration, probation,
mandatory supervision, postrelease community supervision, or parole associated with the record, whichever was later, during which the person has not been convicted of a new offense. The bill would require a court granting this relief to also order specified law enforcement agencies to seal their records. By increasing duties on local law enforcement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would exclude specified offenses from being considered an eligible offense, including, among others, a serious or violent felony, or a sex offense. The bill would authorize a criminal justice agency to access and use a conviction record sealed pursuant to these provisions as required by an initiative
statute.
statute and for the limited purpose of determining eligibility and suitability of a defendant for diversion.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF