California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill
AB 2018: Missing persons: DNA testing.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
AB 2018 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on February 17, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Missing persons: DNA testing. . Primary sponsor: James Ramos (D). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (July 16, 2026): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 93, Statutes of 2026.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
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.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3 · Republican 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Ramos | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Assembly | 45 |
| Juan Alanis | Co-sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 22 |
| John Harabedian | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Assembly | 41 |
| Tom Lackey | Co-sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 34 |
| Nick Schultz | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Assembly | 44 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 93, Statutes of 2026.
- Approved by the Governor.
- Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:15 a.m.
- In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
- Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5189.).
- Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
- From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
- 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.
- Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
- In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
- Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5306.)
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.