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SB 25-170

Deoxyribonucleic Acid & Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Testing & Data

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 52 co-sponsors

SB 25-170 requires testing untested sexual assault kits, expands DNA data tracking/reporting, and speeds results to improve victim safety and case outcomes.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-170

Summary — SB 25-170: Deoxyribonucleic Acid & Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Testing & Data

Status: Governor signed (March 26, 2025)
Introduced: February 19, 2025
Primary sponsors: Barbara Kirkmeyer; Judy Amabile; Emily Sirota; Shannon Bird (plus numerous cosponsors)

Overview / Purpose

SB 25-170, by its title, addresses the testing of sexual assault kits (SAKs) and the collection, reporting, and management of related deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) data. The bill’s intent is to reduce or eliminate backlogs of untested SAKs, improve transparency about testing and results, strengthen DNA evidence handling and reporting, and enhance public safety and victim services through timely testing and data management.

Note: The full bill text was not provided with the request. The summary below lists confirmed procedural facts and outlines the common substantive components such a bill with this title typically contains. For the exact statutory language and requirements, consult the enacted bill text.

Legislative history (key actions)

  • Introduced in Senate (Assigned to Appropriations): Feb 19, 2025
  • Passed Senate (no amendments): Mar 4–3, 2025
  • Passed House (no amendments): Mar 11–13, 2025
  • Sent to Governor: Mar 19, 2025
  • Governor signed into law: Mar 26, 2025

Typical key provisions (inferred from title and common practice)

Because the bill text is not provided here, these provisions reflect common measures in SAK/DNA backlog legislation and likely areas addressed by SB 25-170:

  • Requirements to test untested sexual assault kits within specified timeframes (e.g., immediate testing for kits belonging to current cases and deadlines for legacy kits).
  • Creation or expansion of a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system that allows victims, providers, and agencies to monitor the status of a kit.
  • Standards for evidence collection, storage, and chain-of-custody to preserve admissibility of DNA evidence.
  • Mandates for submitting qualifying DNA profiles to national databases (e.g., CODIS) and timelines for submission.
  • Funding provisions or appropriations to increase laboratory capacity, hire personnel, or contract for testing to reduce backlog.
  • Reporting and data requirements: periodic public reporting to the legislature or a designated agency on backlog size, testing turnaround times, hits/identifications, and resource needs.
  • Victim notification and rights provisions regarding kit testing status and outcomes, with privacy and confidentiality safeguards.
  • Oversight measures (audits, data transparency) to ensure compliance and measure progress.

Who would be affected

  • Crime laboratories (state and local) and forensic service providers — operational and fiscal impacts.
  • Law enforcement agencies — procedures for submission and tracking of kits.
  • Hospitals, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), and victim advocates — evidence collection and victim notification roles.
  • Survivors of sexual assault — timelier testing and greater transparency.
  • Prosecutors and public safety officials — potential increases in investigative leads and case closures.

Implementation and timeline considerations

  • Implementation likely tied to deadlines for testing legacy kits, periodic reporting dates, and any appropriations.
  • If funding is provided, timelines for hiring, contracting, or capacity expansion would affect when backlog reductions are realized.

Next steps / where to find the law

  • To confirm precise duties, timelines, penalties (if any), and funding levels, review the enacted bill text and the statutory updates in the state code. The legislative services website or the governor’s signed-bill repository will have the official language and any accompanying fiscal notes or implementation guidance.

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

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