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Bill

SB 151

MOTOR VEHICLES: Authorizes the office of motor vehicles to flag the license of an individual who is in the Combined DNA Index System. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mandie Landry and 2 co-sponsors

Louisiana authorizes flagging driver's licenses for individuals in the national DNA database, potentially restricting driving privileges based on criminal record database inclusion.

Effective date 8/1/2026.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 151

Legislative bill overview

SB 151 authorizes Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles to flag or restrict driver's licenses for individuals whose DNA profile appears in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database maintained by the FBI containing DNA profiles from convicted offenders and arrestees. The bill creates an administrative mechanism to link motor vehicle licensing with criminal DNA database records.

Why is this important

This bill represents a significant expansion of how criminal justice databases inform civil licensing decisions. It could affect tens of thousands of individuals by potentially restricting or flagging their driving privileges based on database inclusion, which may occur due to conviction, arrest, or even exoneration cases where DNA was collected. The practical impact depends heavily on implementation—whether flags are automatic, appealable, and how they're actually used by law enforcement during traffic stops.

Potential points of contention

  • Due process concerns: Individuals may face license restrictions without clear notification, appeal rights, or understanding of why their license is flagged, particularly since CODIS includes people who were arrested but not convicted
  • Scope of database: CODIS contains profiles from various categories (convicted felons, arrestees, detainees) with different legal statuses; unclear whether all categories trigger flags or only convictions
  • Privacy and function creep: Linking motor vehicle databases to criminal DNA systems creates new surveillance infrastructure and raises questions about whether traffic enforcement should serve as a secondary criminal justice tool

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

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