Missouri Clean Slate Law: Automatic Expungement (2026)

Is it operating yet?

As of October 12, 2026, no official notice from the Highway Patrol or the Office of State Courts Administrator says automatic screening has started. The law requires it to begin when technically feasible and no later than January 1, 2027. Once running, the central repository must screen records at least weekly. Annual reports to the legislature begin January 1, 2028.

Sources: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.10; § 610.141.3; § 610.141.9); Missouri House — SB 1421 Truly Agreed bill summary (CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT (Sections 610.141, 610.143 and 610.144))

The law

SB 1421 (CCS SS SB 1421, 103rd General Assembly, 2026 session) was approved by Governor Mike Kehoe on July 9, 2026. Section 610.141 took effect August 28, 2026, with a contingent effective date. Its provisions take effect "when technically feasible" for the courts administrator and the central repository, and no later than January 1, 2027.

Sources: Missouri House of Representatives — SB 1421 (2026) bill information (Bill header; Governor Action); Office of Missouri Governor — press release, July 9, 2026 (Press release body); RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (Section header and history note; History note; § 610.141.10); Missouri House — SB 1421 Truly Agreed bill summary (CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT (Sections 610.141, 610.143 and 610.144))

What automatic expungement does

Eligible convictions are "expunged" automatically, with no petition and no court filing by the person. Under the statute, that means the record is closed under § 610.120 (hidden from the public, not destroyed) and the person's civil rights are restored, including the right to vote, hold public office, and serve on a jury. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's central repository screens records at least once a week, and the Office of State Courts Administrator makes the matching court case records confidential. This law covers only drug possession and paraphernalia convictions. It is not a general Clean Slate law for all misdemeanors and felonies.

Sources: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (Section header and history note; § 610.141.2; § 610.141.1(4); § 610.141.1(7); +2 more); RSMo § 610.143 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (Section header); RSMo § 610.144 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.144.1-2); RSMo § 610.120 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.120.1)

Records covered and waiting periods

How to check whether your record was cleared

• The statute does not require any action from you. The central repository screens records and expunges eligible offenses automatically.

  Source: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.2; § 610.141.3)

• You can request your own Missouri criminal history from the Highway Patrol through MACHS. A name-based search costs $16.00 plus a convenience fee and shows only open records, so an expunged (closed) offense should no longer appear. A fingerprint-based search shows closed records too.

  Source: Missouri State Highway Patrol — Criminal Record Check (The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS); State and FBI Background Checks & Associated Fees)

• The courts administrator, the Department of Corrections and the Highway Patrol must jointly write a document explaining the law. Courts must give it out at sentencing for a qualifying offense, and probation or parole officers must give it out on release from supervision.

  Source: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.12)

Who can still see a cleared record

• Closed records are not destroyed. They stay available to criminal justice agencies and to the other agencies and screening purposes listed in § 610.120.

  Source: RSMo § 610.120 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.120.1)

• You must disclose the expunged offense to any entity authorized to access closed records under § 610.120. Courts may also use it as a prior offense when sentencing a later crime.

  Source: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.1(7))

• You must disclose an expunged offense when applying to work for a federally insured bank or credit union, an insurance business, or an entity authorized to receive closed records, such as law enforcement.

  Source: RSMo § 610.143 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.143.5)

• Background-check companies can get data from the Highway Patrol to identify and delete records of offenses expunged under § 610.141. Section 610.143 also says records of expunged convictions may no longer be reported.

  Sources: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.11); RSMo § 610.143 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.143.1)

If automatic relief does not cover your record

You can still petition under § 610.140 or any other law that allows it. If an eligible offense is not expunged automatically, the statute says your only remedy is to file a petition under § 610.140. That route has a 1-year (misdemeanor) or 3-year (felony) wait after completing the sentence.

Sources: RSMo § 610.141 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.141.7; § 610.141.8); RSMo § 610.140 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) (§ 610.140.6(1))

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