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S. 3191: Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018

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S. 3191: Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-10 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Became Public Law No: 115-426.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 482 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S3191 (2018-12-21), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 115-426. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018

Plain summary

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 This bill requires the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to: (1) establish a collection of civil rights cold case records; (2) prepare and publish the subject guidebook and index to the collection; and (3) establish criteria for transmitting copies of civil rights cold case records to NARA, to include required metadata. All civil rights cold case records transmitted to NARA for disclosure to the public shall be included in the collection, available to the public for inspection and copying, and prioritized for digitization by NARA. The bill requires redacted records or records for which public disclosure is postponed to be reviewed annually. The bill enumerates grounds for which disclosure of records may be postponed, including causing damage to national security, invading personal privacy, or interfering with ongoing law enforcement proceedings. The bill establishes the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board as an independent agency of impartial private citizens. The board shall consider and render decisions on determinations to seek postponement of disclosure of civil rights cold case records. With the exception of certain administrative records, records of the review board shall not be destroyed. The review board may request the Department of Justice to petition any court in the United States or abroad to release information relevant to civil rights cold cases held under seal of court. A similar request may be made to a court in the United States for release of information held under an injunction of grand-jury secrecy.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 3191, Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 (2018-12-04)

Cosponsors on this site

Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-s3191 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115