Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Watson Coleman
Introduced
Summary
This bill strengthens and expands public access to civil rights cold case records while boosting the Review Board’s authority and capacity to collect and preserve those records. It creates payment help for state and local agencies to send records, narrows a FOIA privacy exemption for older records, and lengthens the Board’s term for continuity.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More access to civil rights cold case records
If enacted, more civil rights cold case records would be open to the public. FOIA privacy rules would not apply to records made after January 1, 1990; older records would keep that protection. State and local agencies would need to send their cold case records to the National Archives. They could get full reimbursement for digitizing, copying, or mailing costs if they ask. Congress would also state, without a binding rule, that these records should be disclosed quickly.
Longer term for cold case review board
If enacted, board members would serve 11 years instead of 7. This would help continuity in reviewing and releasing civil rights cold case records.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 6/13/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 6/27/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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