The State of Clean Slate: Campaigns are Making Strides in the “Race to 14”

Across the country, a friendly competition is underway: the Race to 14 encompasses Clean Slate partners’ efforts to become the 14th state (plus Washington D.C.) to pass an automated record sealing law. 

The Race to 14 is more than a campaign — it's a moment in time when advocates, communities, lawmakers, and stakeholders are working toward a common goal in states all over the country: making sure people are no longer defined by their old arrest and conviction records.

Three months into 2026, let’s check the leaderboard to see who has momentum in the #RaceTo14.

Kentucky

🏁RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): KENTUCKY’S CLEAN SLATE BILL HAS CLEARED COMMITTEE AND IS PENDING ACTION ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

Clean Slate advocates in Kentucky have worked for years to build bipartisan support throughout the state, and in February, Senator Brandon Storm (R-21) introduced SB 290, a prospective-looking Clean Slate bill that would create an automated process to seal eligible conviction records from 2027 forward. 

Additionally, SB 290 would create a task force to develop recommendations that address older records. Under the state’s current petition-based process, only 4% of Kentuckians with old records have been able to successfully seal those records after becoming eligible — because the process is complex, costly, and confusing.

The state’s Clean Slate Act (SB 290) would streamline the system Kentucky already has in place by automating the process to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and make second chances more accessible. An automated process with human oversight would ensure the system works as intended, and that people can access the second chance they’ve earned.

The Clean Slate Kentucky coalition includes Goodwill Kentucky, Kentucky Chamber, Louisville Urban League, KY Free, Forward Justice Action Network, Lane 13 Consulting, ACLU Kentucky, Dream.org, RBIJ, Right on Crime, CSI, and more.

Learn more about Clean Slate in The Bluegrass State by visiting cleanslatekentucky.org, and don’t miss the latest updates on this bill’s movement in the Race to 14.

Maine

🏁 RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): MAINE’S CLEAN SLATE BILL HAS ADVANCED AND AWAITS FLOOR VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

One in four Mainers has a past arrest or conviction record, most often for old arrests, acquittals, or low-level convictions — and that’s why partners in Maine have launched a Clean Slate campaign to put up to 123,000 adults with a record in Maine on a path to full record sealing.

Introduced in May 2025 by Senator Rachel Talbot-Ross (D-Portland), LD 1911 would streamline Maine’s current record sealing system and expand the number of offenses eligible for sealing. Eligibility is limited to individuals with misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentence and remained conviction-free for 5 years. A Clean Slate policy in Maine would ensure eligible records are sealed consistently, for people who have earned their second chance, rather than relying on a petition-based system that’s only accessible to the people with the money and time to pursue their second chance.

The coalition in Maine includes Maine Center for Economic Policy (MCEP), Maine Recovery Action Project (ME-RAP), Reentry Sisters, Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), and CSI. 

Learn more about Clean Slate in Maine by visiting cleanslatemaine.org, and stay tuned for updates as The Pine Tree state digs their roots into the Race to 14.

Maryland

🏁 RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): MARYLAND’S CLEAN SLATE BILL PASSED THE SENATE, AND AWAITS A HEARING IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

In February, partners in Maryland hosted a rally in support of Clean Slate at the State Capitol, with hundreds in attendance, and the momentum behind the state’s push to pass an automated record sealing bill has continued to grow since then. 

The state’s Clean Slate Act, (SB 483), would automate the record sealing process and remove outdated records from most background checks, reducing red tape and barriers to employment, housing, and a better life for Marylanders living with an old arrest and conviction record. Under the bill, up to 407,000 adults with a record in the state would have their record fully sealed.

The coalition working to advance Clean Slate in The Old Line State include Out for Justice, Center for Urban Families, University of Baltimore’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform, Shore Legal Access, BUILD Baltimore, Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform, Center for American Progress, R Street, RBIJ, CSI, and others.

Learn more about Clean Slate in Maryland at cleanslatemaryland.org, and check in on the bill’s progress as they push closer to the finish line in the Race to 14.

Massachusetts

🏁 RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): THE SENATE BILLS HAVE PASSED THEIR FIRST COMMITTEE CHECKPOINT AND AWAIT A HEARING IN THE NEXT COMMITTEE.

The Clean Slate team in the Commonwealth is in the Race to 14 and is advocating for two policies: S1114/H1811 and S1124/H1693. These promising bills would automatically seal eligible records, putting 523,000 people on a pathway to better opportunity. Both Senate bills have passed the Joint Judiciary committee and are now awaiting a vote in Senate Ways and Means. 

Clean Slate Massachusetts is composed of leaders from New England Community Project, Neighbor to Neighbor, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Greater Boston Legal Services, Massachusetts Voter Table, Progressive Massachusetts, Justice 4 Housing, The Fountain Fund, Coalition for Social Justice, and more. 

More information about the Clean Slate Massachusetts campaign can be found at cleanslatema.org. 

Missouri

🏁 RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): MISSOURI’S CLEAN SLATE BILL HAS PASSED THE HOUSE AND AWAITS A HEARING IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

Clean Slate has gained momentum and support in the Missouri legislature over the past several years, and this year it’s pushing ahead further than ever before — which is great news for the 1.7 million adults in Missouri who have a past arrest or conviction record. 

HB 2747, introduced in January by Representative Bishop Davidson (R-130), would modernize the system Missouri already has. It would improve the process with a government-initiated, automated one — reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and making second chances more accessible. Although sealed records are not publicly available, they remain visible to law enforcement and courts, and human oversight would ensure the system works as intended.

Clean Slate efforts in The Show-Me State are led by Empower Missouri, with support from CSI, and more information about the state’s campaign is available at cleanslatemo.org. Stay tuned for updates as Missouri keeps moving through their laps on the Race to 14.

Rhode Island

🏁 RACE TO 14 CHECKPOINT (AS OF 3/30/26): RHODE ISLAND’S CLEAN SLATE BILL IS AWAITING A VOTE IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

In early March, during a press conference at the State Capitol, partners in Rhode Island officially launched their Clean Slate campaign and celebrated the introduction of the state’s Clean Slate Act (HB 7508), legislation that would automate record sealing for eligible arrest and conviction records.

An estimated one in three adults in Rhode Island has an arrest or conviction record. Under the proposed Clean Slate Act, approximately 77,000 Rhode Islanders could become eligible to have their records fully sealed. HB 7508 has strong support in the General Assembly, led by Representatives Julie Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) and Cherie L. Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket), and Senators Andrew Dimitri (D-Dist. 25, Johnston) and Jake Bassillion (D-Dist. 1, Providence). As a common-sense workforce policy, the effort has also gained support from the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.

The coalition in Rhode Island includes organizations such as Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), Open Doors, and national partners, including The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) — all united in the belief that second chances strengthen families, communities, businesses, and the broader economy.

Learn more about Clean Slate in Rhode Island by visiting cleanslateri.org, and stay tuned for updates as The Ocean State continues to make waves in the Race to 14.

This update focuses on the states that have bills moving currently, but an honorable mention is due for our partners working in states that don’t have legislation moving right now, too. In several more states, critical groundwork is being laid: coalitions are forming, communities are being educated, and power is being built. Because lasting change starts long before a bill hits a committee. And in other states, partners and stakeholders are working toward making the promise of Clean Slate a reality through implementation.

Stay tuned as our campaign states keep pushing forward, because every checkpoint completed brings us one step closer to Clean Slate in all 50 states.

To learn more about Clean Slate in your state, follow us on social media and join our email list.