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AB-1063 • 2026

Search warrants: newborn screening program.

Search warrants: newborn screening program.

Children Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Dixon
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how long DNA samples will be stored or used after they are uploaded to the database, nor does it specify what happens if parents object to a request for their newborn's blood sample.

Search Warrants for Newborn Blood Tests

This law allows the Department of Public Health to release newborn blood test samples to police if they have a search warrant and need DNA evidence related to missing persons cases involving serious crimes.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Public Health to release physical blood tests taken from newborns to law enforcement in response to a search warrant, only if the objective is to obtain DNA for comparison with samples in the Missing Persons DNA Database and for future identification purposes.
  • Requires the Department of Public Health to report annually on the number of search warrants received and disclosures made regarding newborn blood tests.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement agencies seeking DNA evidence related to missing persons cases involving serious crimes.
  • The State Department of Public Health, which manages newborn screening programs.
  • Parents whose newborns' blood samples might be requested by law enforcement under specific circumstances.

Terms To Know

Search warrant
A legal document that allows police to search a place or seize items as part of an investigation.
DNA Database
A collection of DNA samples used by law enforcement for identification and solving crimes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a newborn's blood sample is requested but the parents object.
  • It remains unclear how often such requests might occur in practice.
  • There are no details on how long DNA samples will be stored or used after they are uploaded to the database.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and PUB. S.

  4. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  5. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1063, as introduced, Dixon.
Search warrants: newborn screening program.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a genetic disease unit to, among other responsibilities, promote a statewide program of information, testing, and counseling services related to genetic diseases, and administer that information, testing, and counseling to each child born in the state, as specified. Existing law requires all information obtained from persons involved in hereditary disorders programs to be held strictly confidential.
Existing law sets forth the grounds and procedures for the issuance of a search warrant and authorizes the issuance of a search warrant upon specified grounds, including that the property or things to be seized consist of an item or constitute evidence that tends to show a felony has been committed or that a particular person has committed a felony.
This bill would authorize the department to release a physical blood test taken from a newborn to law enforcement in response to a search warrant only if the objective of the warrant is to obtain the DNA of a missing person suspected to be a victim of homicide, child abuse resulting in death, or manslaughter in order to compare the DNA to other samples in the Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Database and to upload the sample for future identification of the person.
Existing law requires the department, commencing July 1, 2026, to annually generate a report to the Legislature regarding the newborn screening program, including the number of new residual screening specimens collected during the previous calendar year, until the department has provided 5 annual reports.
The bill would require the department, as part of its annual report, to report to the Legislature the number of
search warrants received by and the number of disclosures granted by the department.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF