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S1510119th Congress

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

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

Passed Senate

Summary

Expanded public access to civil rights cold case records. This bill would strengthen the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, create a presumption that federal and state cold case files should be disclosed, and change how privacy rules apply to older records.

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  • Communities, historians, and journalists would gain broader access to files because records at federal, state, and local levels would carry a presumption of immediate disclosure and be eligible for transmission to the central Collection.
  • State and local governments would be eligible for reimbursements to digitize, copy, or mail cold case records to the Archivist, and they could request full reimbursement for those costs.
  • The bill would change how FOIA Exemption 6 applies to records created on or before January 1, 1990 so that Exemption 6 generally would not cover those cold case records except for specific information within them.
  • The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board’s authorized period would extend from 7 years to 11 years, giving the board more time and authority to collect and release records.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More public access to civil rights records

This bill would push agencies to release civil rights cold case records quickly and share them with the public. It states that these records should be disclosed so people can learn the full history. It would also keep FOIA privacy protections for personal information in records created on or before January 1, 1990. If enacted, these changes would take effect upon signing.

Review Board term extended to 11 years

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board would have its term lengthened from 7 years to 11 years. This would help keep oversight and record release work going longer. The change would take effect upon enactment.

States could share cold case records, costs covered

State and local governments would be able to send eligible civil rights cold case records to the Archivist for the national Collection. The Review Board could repay them in full for digitizing, copying, or mailing costs when those costs are to transmit records, if they request it. The bill does not say where the money would come from. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

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.

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