This bill amends section 943.059 of the Florida Statutes to expand the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking to seal their criminal history records. It allows persons adjudicated guilty of certain misdemeanor offenses to petition a court for sealing their records, provided they meet specific conditions. Notably, the bill introduces new language that specifies eligibility based on whether the individual has been adjudicated guilty of related offenses, and it clarifies that individuals must not be currently serving a sentence related to the offenses they wish to seal. Additionally, it establishes that a person can petition to seal records for multiple adjudications of guilt if they are directly related to the same incident.

The bill also outlines waiting periods for sealing records based on the nature of the adjudication. If a person has previously secured sealing for an offense with withheld adjudication, they may seek to seal a subsequent record after maintaining a conviction-free status for three years. Conversely, if the individual was adjudicated guilty, they must maintain a conviction-free record for five years before petitioning for sealing. The term "conviction" is defined within the context of the bill, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.