SB3294: Relating To Wrongful Imprisonment.

What this measure contains

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of a person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay, through a warrant for payment issued by the Comptroller, advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately notify the Department of Human Services so the Department of Human Services may assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for persons whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

This is the description in the imported bill snapshot. It may describe a later draft than the version considered in this vote. The recorded motion above identifies the decision; the bill description does not establish the exact text voted on.

Official measure page ↗

Official text and draft versions

• Introduced· Jan 28, 2026 · Official original ↗
• Amended· Feb 20, 2026 · Official original ↗
• Amended· Mar 6, 2026 · Official original ↗Published after this vote
• Amended· Mar 19, 2026 · Official original ↗Published after this vote
• Amended· Mar 27, 2026 · Official original ↗Published after this vote

Document dates help distinguish drafts. A document published before the vote is not proof that this was the version considered.

Recorded decision and member tally

Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments

This record lists 13 members; its source-reported total is 13.

Committee and conference committee votes involve the assigned members, rather than the entire House or Senate. A tally of three or five members can be a committee decision. The action above identifies the source's decision; these records do not establish that all chamber votes have been captured.

Source outcome: passed.

Yes

13

No

0

Not voting

0

Absent / excused

0

This outcome applies to the recorded motion. It does not by itself mean the measure became law. The original description and each member’s recorded vote are preserved below.

Members listed for this decision

Names come from the imported legislative person record. A profile link appears only when the person has a verified officeholder mapping applicable to the vote date. Missing mappings are kept visible rather than guessed from a name or seat.