Reps. Cockley, Ritter Testify on Bipartisan Bill to Improve Missing Persons Database Connections

HR 227 urges the DOJ to expedite connection of NCIC, NamUs

October 7, 2025

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COLUMBUS — State Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta) today provided sponsor testimony on House Resolution (HR) 227 in the House Public Safety Committee.

HR 227 urges the U.S. Department of Justice to expedite the integration of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)—a mandate established by federal legislation known as Billy’s Law, passed in 2022 but not yet implemented.

The bipartisan resolution complements House Bill (HB) 217, also sponsored by Reps. Cockley and Ritter, which would require Ohio law enforcement to enter missing persons information into NamUs within 30 days, along with other improvements to missing persons case management. Without integration, officers must manually input data into both systems, leading to delays and errors.

“We are confident that HB 217 is an effective response to the challenges our law enforcement faces in these situations. It aligns with the recommendations of Governor DeWine’s Missing Persons Working Group and is designed to help law enforcement act quickly without creating unnecessary delays,” said Rep. Cockley during sponsor testimony. “But for HB 217 to work as intended, the NCIC-NamUs integration must happen, which is why HR 227 is critical today.”

“What we are doing with HR 227 is simply asking the federal government to do something that they have already decided to do,” said Rep. Ritter. “We are letting them know time is of the essence.”

Governor DeWine echoed this call in a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year, urging the Department of Justice to fulfill its mandate under Billy’s Law.

HR 227 is currently under consideration in the House Public Safety Committee.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A picture of Rep. Cockley from today’s hearing is attached to this release. Courtesy: Ohio House Democrats. You can watch Tuesday’s House Public Safety Committee meeting here.