LANSING, Mich., Oct. 11, 2023 — The House Criminal Justice Committee met the morning of Oct. 10 and voted out House Bills 4948 and 4960. These bills would prohibit landlords and employers from requesting or requiring disclosure of information on previously expunged convictions. The bills, introduced by state Reps. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) and Will Snyder (D-Muskegon), aim to safeguard the rights of individuals with expunged convictions.
“The clean slate laws provide Michiganders the opportunity to get their criminal record expunged and to move on from past mistakes. Without these bills, bad actors can circumvent the positive impacts expungement has on an individual’s life,” Grant said. “I want to thank my colleague and chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice, state Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt), for her speedy attention to this matter.”
“We need to ensure that everyone who receives an expungement is actually treated the same as those who already have a clean slate,” Snyder said. “People who have paid their debt to society should be able to get jobs and housing. Eliminating this loophole is critical for the original intent of the expungement legislation.”
The bills will now go to the House floor for a vote.
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