SB63 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lance BellSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Immigration, requires law enforcement agencies to collect and submit fingerprints and DNA from illegal aliens in custody

Summary

SB63 requires law enforcement to collect fingerprints and DNA from illegal aliens in custody and creates funding and definitional changes related to this process.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would require a full set of fingerprints and a known DNA reference sample from any illegal alien in custody before they can be released, with fingerprints sent to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for cataloging and the DNA sample sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for analysis and database entry. It creates the Alabama DNA Database Fund to support DNA database operations and funds this program through court fees and related revenue, with specific fee amounts and remittance rules. It also updates immigration-related definitions and states that state officials cannot independently determine immigration status, while providing presumptions of lawful presence for certain ID documents.

Who It Affects

• Illegal aliens in custody in Alabama, who would have their fingerprints and DNA collected and stored in state databases.
• Law enforcement and state agencies (including the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences) that must collect, submit, analyze, catalog, and manage the data and funding requirements.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 31-13-36 requiring law enforcement to collect a full set of fingerprints and a known DNA reference sample from any illegal alien in custody before release, with fingerprints submitted to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for cataloging and the DNA sample to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for analysis and database entry.
• Amends Section 31-13-3 to expand definitions (including ALIEN, ILLEGAL ALIEN, LAWFUL PRESENCE, and related terms) and clarifies that state officers may not independently determine an alien's immigration status; preserves presumptions of lawful presence for certain IDs like valid Alabama driver licenses, nondriver IDs, tribal IDs, and other government documents.
• Creates the Alabama DNA Database Fund under Section 36-18-32 to fund the DNA database program, with management by the Director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and rules on funding, expenditures, and record-keeping; funds come from specified court fees and are subject to appropriation and budgeting processes.
• Imposes court fees to fund the DNA database and Citizenship Trust, including civil and criminal fees with scheduled amounts and remittance timelines to the fund, and states there shall be no additional fees for parking tickets or small claims; detailed fee amounts change over fiscal years.
• Effective date: June 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Immigration