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H.R. 3087House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

Sponsored by Bonnie Watson ColemanRep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
Introduced April 29, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM UTC

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act updates the 2018 law to give the Review Board stronger authority over civil‑rights cold‑case documents. It creates a presumption that such records should be disclosed, lets the Board reimburse state and local governments for processing costs, and removes a restriction that barred those governments from sending records to the national collection. It also clarifies that very old records (pre‑1990) are not covered by a specific FOIA exemption and lengthens the Board’s term from seven to eleven years.

Key Provisions

  • Congress expresses that all federal, state, and local records about civil‑rights cold cases should be presumed to be released immediately and eventually made public.
  • The Review Board may reimburse state or local governments for costs they incur to digitize, copy, or mail cold‑case records for inclusion in the national collection.
  • The rule that state or local governments could not transmit records to the collection is removed, allowing them to send records directly.
  • Records created on or before Jan. 1, 1990 are excluded from a FOIA exemption that would otherwise keep them hidden.
  • The term of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board is extended from seven to eleven years.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 4.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

May 20, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 29, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

April 29, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

May 20, 2026

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 4.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

May 20, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 29, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3087

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 29, 2025

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To amend the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 to strengthen the powers of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act.

2.

Clarifying the Authorities of the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board

(a)

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board presumption of release

It is the sense of Congress that all records of the Federal Government and State and local governments concerning civil rights cold cases should—

(1)

carry a presumption of immediate disclosure; and

(2)

eventually be disclosed to enable the public to become fully informed about the history surrounding the cases.

(b)

Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments

Section 3 of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i)

Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments

Upon request of a State or local government to the Review Board, the Review Board may reimburse the State or local government in full for any expense incurred by the State or local government for digitizing, photocopying, or mailing a civil rights cold case record for the purpose of transmitting such record to the Archivist for inclusion in the Collection.

.

(c)

Transmission to Collection of civil rights cold case records in possession of State or local government

Section 3(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426) is amended by striking , except in the case of a State or local government.

(d)

No application of section 552(b)(6) to civil rights cold case records on or before January 1, 1990

Section 9(a)(2) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting , except in the case of information contained in a civil rights cold case record created on or before January 1, 1990..

3.

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board Extension of Tenure

Section 5(n)(1) of Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426) is amended—

(1)

by striking 7 years and inserting 11 years; and

(2)

by striking 7-year period and inserting 11-year period.