# 119-s-1890: Carla Walker Act

119-s-1890, Carla Walker Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status passed_senate (as of 2026-10-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1890
- As of: 2026-10-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1890
- Congress: 119
- Title: Carla Walker Act
- Status: passed_senate
- Introduced: 2025-05-22
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-01

## Summary

**Federal grants to expand whole genome sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy, with Justice Department oversight and privacy safeguards.** This law funds targeted DNA analyses when CODIS searches fail, plus equipment and genealogical database searching, while setting consent, confidentiality, and use limits. - Families and victims: Enables additional testing for cold cases and analysis of unidentified human remains to generate leads and possible identifications. - State, Tribal, and local labs and prosecutors: Makes publicly funded accredited forensic laboratories and prosecutor offices eligible for competitive grants to run whole genome sequencing that assesses at least 100,000 genetic markers and is compatible with genealogical databases. A separate grant stream funds equipment purchases and genealogical database searching. - Privacy, legal limits, and oversight: Requires a CODIS-first search, restricts arrests based solely on genetic associations, requires notice to genealogy service users, forbids medical or health inferences, limits authorized users, mandates DOJ rulemaking within one year, and requires recipient reporting and audits. *Authorizes $5.0 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 for the WGS/FGG grant program, increasing federal spending by at least those amounts.*

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-05-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] (R-ID), 2025-12-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2026-05-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants to expand forensic DNA tools: benefit, medium. This bill would create two DOJ grant programs. One would fund whole genome DNA analysis that checks at least 100,000 markers and works with genealogy databases. It would pay for testing case evidence or unidentified remains, and allow outsourcing to accredited labs, but only after a CODIS search fi…
- Stronger privacy rules for genetic genealogy: benefit, medium. Law enforcement would not be allowed to arrest someone only because of a genealogy match. DNA and profiles would be used only to identify people, not to predict disease or psychological traits. Agencies would have to tell genealogy sites they are police and use sites that clearly warn users about l…
- Audits and rules for these grants: benefit, low. Grant recipients would have to keep records for DOJ audits, including for outsourced work and sample and data controls. The Attorney General would be able to review related books and records. DOJ would issue rules for using genetic genealogy within one year of enactment. DOJ would report to Congres…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025
- 119-s-2858: SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-1890 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1890)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3940)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-237)
- [119-s-2858: SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2858)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1890 (as of 2026-10-01).