California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 2018
Missing persons: DNA testing.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Ramos (Democratic)
Cosponsors (4)
- Alanis (Republican)
- Harabedian (Democratic)
- Lackey (Republican)
- Schultz (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law requires the Department of Justice to develop a DNA database for all cases involving the report of an unidentified deceased person or a high-risk missing person and provides for the collection of DNA samples from unidentified deceased persons and from potential sources for comparison, as specified. Existing law requires that the database be funded by a $2 increase on death certificates issued by a local government agency or by the State of California. Existing law specifies the procedure for identifying the backlog of unidentified remains. Under existing law, all samples and DNA extracted from a living person are required to be destroyed after a positive identification is made and a report is issued, except as specified.
This bill would require the DNA database be used for all cases involving the report of an unidentified person, whether living or deceased, and would delete provisions relating to the reporting of high-risk missing persons. The bill would additionally authorize the retention of DNA extracted from a living person under these provisions if the identified human remains are incomplete and there is a reasonable expectation that additional remains requiring identification may be found in the future. The bill would also make conforming changes.
Text versions
- 07/16/26 - Chaptered· Jul 16, 2026
- 07/07/26 - Enrolled· Jul 7, 2026
- 04/07/26 - Amended Assembly· Apr 7, 2026
- 02/17/26 - Introduced· Feb 17, 2026
- AB2018
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 2026 Senate | Consent Calendar 2nd AB2018 Ramos et al. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 16, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 26, 2026 House | AB 2018 Ramos Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 14, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 14, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Jul 16, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 93, Statutes of 2026. - Jul 16, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Jul 15, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:15 a.m. - Jul 2, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. - Jul 2, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5189.). - Jun 30, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. - Jun 29, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar. - Jun 16, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 3, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Com. on PUB. S. - May 27, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - May 26, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.) - May 18, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 14, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14). - May 14, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.) - May 13, 2026 · House
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Apr 15, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 15, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Apr 8, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Apr 7, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended. - Apr 7, 2026 · House
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. - Mar 18, 2026 · House
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. - Mar 2, 2026 · House
Referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Feb 18, 2026 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 20. - Feb 17, 2026 · House
Read first time. To print.