LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides relative to DNA detection of sexual and violent offenses. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE See Note)
SB 320 requires Louisiana law enforcement agencies to track and resolve DNA matches from unsolved sexual assault and violent crime cases within 90 days of notification. It creates a central statewide system managed by the state police to monitor "outstanding" DNA matches (cases where agencies haven't acted on the lead within 90 days) and mandates all relevant agencies - including police departments, district attorneys, and crime labs - to report data to this system by January 2027. The law also requires annual public reports detailing statewide and regional statistics on outstanding matches and resolutions. This directly affects law enforcement agencies handling criminal investigations involving DNA evidence.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026
Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB320 Original
→
SB320 Act 488
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was enrolled into law as Act 488, expanding the legislative sponsors to include a representative and refining the definitions of DNA database matches to clarify the tracking process. The most significant change is the mandate for a statewide tracking system to monitor unresolved DNA leads, requiring all relevant agencies to participate by January 1, 2027, and submit annual reports to the governor and legislature.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a general provision regarding DNA detection to a specific mandate for a statewide tracking system with defined reporting requirements and participation deadlines.
DEFINITION
Definitions for CODIS hits and notifications were refined to explicitly distinguish between a match, the notification of that match, and the resolution of the lead.
REQUIREMENT
A new requirement was added for the state police to create and operate a statewide outstanding CODIS hit tracking system.
TIMELINE
A mandatory participation deadline was set for all law enforcement agencies to join the tracking system by January 1, 2027.
REPORTING
New requirements were established for the state police to submit annual reports on tracking system performance to the governor and legislative committees.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 20, 2026 · House May 19, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
Apr 20, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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