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S1510119th Congress

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Passed Senate

Summary

This Act creates a strong presumption of disclosure for civil rights cold case records and clarifies how the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board gathers and manages those files.

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  • State and local governments: The Review Board may reimburse, upon request, costs to digitize, photocopy, or mail records to the Archivist so they can be added to the Collection. The bill also removes a prior exception and requires transmission of state and local records to the Collection.
  • Review Board members: Member tenure is extended from 7 years to 11 years to lengthen term limits and support continuity on the Board.
  • Records and privacy rules: The Act changes how the Freedom of Information Act privacy exemption at 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6) applies by creating an exception for information in civil rights cold case records created on or before January 1, 1990.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Longer terms for cold case board

If enacted, members of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board would serve up to 11 years instead of 7. This would extend the Board’s term limits under the 2018 law.

Open more civil rights cold case records

If enacted, Congress would state that civil rights cold case records should be presumed for immediate disclosure. Information in records created on or before January 1, 1990 would not be withheld under FOIA’s personal‑privacy exemption. This would guide agencies and the Archivist to release more historical records to the public.

States send records with reimbursement

If enacted, State and local governments would be required to send qualifying civil rights cold case records to the national Collection. The Review Board would be able to reimburse them in full for digitizing, photocopying, or mailing costs when sending records to the Archivist. Reimbursement would be available only if the government requests it from the Board.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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