DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed 14 bills into law, including a measure that would expunge the records of people with not-guilty verdicts and dismissed criminal charges. Branstad signed the bills Friday. The criminal record legislation received unanimous approval in the House and Senate.

Previously, the law allowed such information to remain on a person’s records indefinitely. Supporters said the bill would help people applying for a job or renting a home, since those actions often require some type of background check.

The law includes a 180-day waiting period for the records to be expunged. The bill was amended to include that provision after at least one group expressed concern about oversight in how the records would be expunged.