AB 15: Open unsolved homicide: review and reinvestigation.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. January 22, 2026Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2. October 11, 2025Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. October 11, 2025Vetoed by Governor.
4. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
5. September 9, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 3099.).
6. September 8, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 0. Page 2600.).
8. August 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 29).
10. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
11. July 16, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. July 15, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15).