LD1917 Allows Sealing Criminal Records for Decriminalized Conduct
Summary
Maine's 132nd Legislature passed LD1917, permitting individuals to seal criminal history records related to convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime. The bill passed the House (77-70) on April 7, 2026 and the Senate (21-14) on April 8, 2026, after committee amendments. Affected individuals with outdated convictions may now petition courts to restrict access to their criminal records.
What changed
Maine LD1917 creates a new mechanism allowing individuals to petition courts to seal criminal history records for convictions involving conduct that the state has since decriminalized. The bill passed with Committee Amendment A (H-984) and takes effect upon signing.\n\nEmployers and background check vendors must update their screening procedures to account for records subject to sealing under this new law. Individuals with historical convictions for decriminalized conduct now have a pathway to limit disclosure of those records in employment, housing, and licensing applications. Legal professionals assisting clients with criminal records should advise on eligibility and petition procedures.
What to do next
- Update hiring and background check procedures to account for newly sealable criminal records
- Review employment screening policies to comply with sealed record restrictions
- Monitor for implementing regulations from Maine courts on the sealing petition process
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Maine / LD1917 Passed LD1917 LD Passed 2026-04-08
An Act to Allow the Sealing of Criminal History Record Information Related to Convictions for Conduct That Is No Longer a Crime in the State
Bill Details
State Maine
Session 132nd Legislature
Chamber House
Official Source legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_...
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Sponsors
Amy Kuhn (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-08 S Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-984) in concurrence. 2026-04-08 S Committee Amendment "A" (H-984) READ and ADOPTED. 2026-04-08 S READ ONCE. 2026-04-08 S Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 912 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 2026-04-08 S ACCEPTANCE of the Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report PREVAILED. 2026-04-08 S Taken from the table by the President 2026-04-08 S On motion by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-984) Report in concurrence. 2026-04-08 S Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox moved to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report. 2026-04-08 S Reports READ 2026-04-07 H Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2026-04-07 H The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-984). 2026-04-07 H Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading. 2026-04-07 H Committee Amendment "A" (H-984) was READ and ADOPTED. 2026-04-07 H The Bill was READ ONCE. 2026-04-07 H ROLL CALL NO. 745 (Yeas 77 - Nays 70 - Absent 3 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1) 2026-04-07 H On motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED. 2026-04-07 H Reports READ. 2025-06-25 H Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. 2025-05-21 S Ordered sent down forthwith. 2025-05-21 S On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to the Report being REJECTED and the Bill and accompanying papers REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY 2025-05-20 H ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2025-05-20 H The House INSISTED on its action whereby the Report of the Committee on JUDICIARY was READ and REJECTED and the Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 2025-05-14 S Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence 2025-05-14 S On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland Report ACCEPTED and the Bill and accompanying papers REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY In NON-CONCURRENCE 2025-05-14 S Taken from the table by the President 2025-05-13 S Unfinished Business 2025-05-07 S Unfinished Business 2025-05-07 S On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending CONSIDERATION 2025-05-07 S Report READ 2025-05-06 H Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2025-05-06 H The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY 2025-05-06 H Report was READ and REJECTED. 2025-05-06 H Representative KUHN for the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 103, section 8 reports that the Bill be REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY and printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
Votes
2026-04-07 Acc Maj Otp As Amended Rep RC #745 Yea: 77 Nay: 70 2026-04-08 Accept Majority Ought To Pass As Amended Report RC #912 Yea: 21 Nay: 14
Committee Referrals
2025-05-06 J Judiciary 2025-05-06 J Criminal Justice And Public Safety 2025-05-14 J Judiciary 2025-05-20 J Criminal Justice And Public Safety
Amendments
0000-00-00 House: C-A (H-984) Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced
Subjects
Criminal Histories Criminal History Records Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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