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LD 540

An Act To Identify The State'S Unidentified Human Remains

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bruce Bickford and 9 co-sponsors

Authorizes the Attorney General to contract a DNA lab to extract DNA profiles from unidentified remains and conduct genetic research to identify identities and notify families.

Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)
#death #dispositionofremains #unidentifiedremains
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Bill Summary · LD 540

LD 540 — "An Act To Identify The State's Unidentified Human Remains"

Status: CARRIED OVER to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature (per Joint Order SP 800)
Introduced: February 11, 2025 | Sponsor: Rep. Boyer, Jr. (Poland)
Committee: Health and Human Services

Purpose / Intent

The bill is intended to improve identification of the State’s unidentified human remains by enabling the creation of DNA profiles and conducting genetic research on those remains so that identities can be determined and families notified.

Key Provisions

  • Directs the State (through the Department of the Attorney General) to contract with a DNA laboratory to:
    • Extract DNA profiles from unidentified human remains in state custody, and
    • Conduct related genetic research to support identification efforts.
  • Implements funding to pay for the contracted DNA work (see fiscal section below).

Note: The legislative text itself is not provided in the materials supplied; the fiscal notes expressly describe only the funded contracting activity (DNA profile extraction and genetic research).

Fiscal Impact (from legislative fiscal notes)

  • Committee/initial version:
    • One-time General Fund appropriation of $100,000 in FY 2025–26.
    • Ongoing General Fund appropriations of $9,000 annually beginning FY 2026–27 (to support continued contracting/maintenance).
  • After House Amendment to Committee Amendment:
    • A transfer was added that moves $100,000 (FY25–26) and $9,000 (FY26–27) from the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — State Board of Funeral Service to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund. This transfer offsets the appropriation for the contract in those years.
    • Fiscal notes show the appropriation requirement originally proposed, and the amendment’s transfer to offset General Fund impacts in later projections.

Who is affected

  • Department of the Attorney General: tasked with contracting for DNA work and overseeing/implementing identification efforts.
  • Contract DNA laboratories and genetic genealogy services: potential vendors to perform DNA extraction and analyses.
  • State Board of Funeral Service / Department of Professional and Financial Regulation: source of transferred funds per the House amendment.
  • Families of missing persons, coroners/medical examiners, law enforcement, and communities with unidentified remains: potential beneficiaries if identification rates increase.

Legislative Action / Timeline (selected)

  • 2025-02-11: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
  • 2025-03-11: Committee work session; voted OTP-AM (recommended “ought to pass as amended”).
  • 2025-05-27 to 05-29: Committee Amendment A (H-144) adopted; bill passed to be enacted and sent for concurrence.
  • 2025-06-02: Placed on Special Appropriations Table pending enactment.
  • 2025-06-25: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature (Joint Order SP 800) — current status.

Notes and implications

  • The bill’s operational scope (which specific remains, prioritization, data sharing, privacy protections, use of genetic genealogy databases, chain-of-custody protocols, and coordination with coroners/law enforcement) is not detailed in the provided materials; these matters may be covered in the bill text or implementation regulations.
  • The principal, documented expenditure is for contracting with a DNA laboratory. The House amendment changed the funding source via transfer, which affects how the appropriation is accounted for in the General Fund but does not change the underlying program goal.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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