AB-15 • 2026

Open unsolved homicide: review and reinvestigation.

Education

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Gipson
Last action: 2026-01-22
Official status: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the governor, but it is unclear if lawmakers will override this veto.

Review and Reinvestigate Old Unsolved Homicides

This law would require police to review old unsolved murder or manslaughter cases from after 1990 if asked in writing by certain people, and conduct a new investigation if it could lead to useful information.

What This Bill Does

Defines homicide as including both murder and manslaughter.
Sets rules for when an unsolved homicide case can be reviewed by law enforcement upon written application.
Requires police to review old cases if asked in writing by certain people.
If a review shows that looking into the case again might help, it must happen.
Limits each victim to one new investigation at a time.

Who It Names or Affects

Law enforcement agencies
People who can apply for a case review

Terms To Know

Probative investigative leads: Information that could help solve the case or find new clues.
State-mandated local program: A state law that requires local agencies to do something, which may cost them money.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the governor.
It is not clear who can apply for a case review.
Local agencies might need extra funding from the state if they have to follow this law.

Bill History

2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by Governor.
2025-09-16 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 3099.).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 0. Page 2600.).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15).
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 70. Noes 2. Page 2026.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-04 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 4). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-02-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and JUD.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 15, Gipson.
Open unsolved homicide: review and reinvestigation.
Existing law defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought. Existing law also defines manslaughter as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice, and establishes 3 kinds of manslaughter: voluntary, involuntary, and vehicular.
This bill would require a law enforcement agency to review the casefile regarding an open unsolved homicide upon written application by certain persons to determine if a reinvestigation would result in probative investigative leads, as specified. The bill would
define a homicide to include murder and manslaughter and an open unsolved homicide as a homicide committed after January 1, 1990, but no less than 3 years prior to the date of the application for case review, that was investigated by a law enforcement agency, for which all probative investigative leads have been exhausted and for which no suspect has been identified. If the review determines that a reinvestigation would result in probative investigative leads, this bill would require a reinvestigation, as
specified. The bill would allow only one reinvestigation from being undertaken at any one time with respect to the same victim.
By imposing new duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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