Substitute House Bill No. 7259, also known as Public Act No. 25-29, introduces several amendments to existing laws related to criminal justice, effective October 1, 2025. Key changes include the handling of DNA samples by the Division of Scientific Services, which now allows for the confirmation of a person's DNA profile in the data bank under reasonable suspicion of criminal involvement. The bill mandates that nonqualifying DNA samples be disclosed to the conviction integrity unit for exculpatory evidence before being purged. Additionally, the bill revises protocols for health care facilities in collecting sexual assault evidence, requiring victim consent for evidence kit designation and timely transfer and analysis of evidence. It also reclassifies the offense of failure to appear in the second degree from a class A misdemeanor to a class D misdemeanor for first offenses, while maintaining the class A misdemeanor for subsequent offenses.

The bill further addresses civil immigration detainers and administrative warrants, stipulating that law enforcement cannot detain individuals based solely on a civil immigration detainer unless accompanied by a judicial warrant or if the individual has been convicted of serious offenses. It expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include various roles and restricts law enforcement from performing federal immigration functions. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for presentence confinement, allowing individuals unable to obtain bail to earn sentence reductions based on confinement duration. It also clarifies the use of chokeholds by peace officers, allowing them only under specific circumstances, and establishes penalties for violations related to online gaming and sports wagering, including prohibiting minors from participating. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the integrity and efficiency of the criminal justice system while delineating the responsibilities of law enforcement.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 51-247, 54-56l, 30-113, 14-223
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 54-56l, 30-113
File No. 808: 54-56l, 30-113
File No. 953: 54-192h, 30-113
Public Act No. 25-29: 54-192h, 30-113