Home/Bills/S 5153New York · 2025–2026 Legislative Session
Senate BillIntroduced

S 5153: Prohibits the use of DNA phenotyping in criminal prosecutions and proceedings.

New York · Senate · 2025–2026 Legislative Session · last verified January 8, 2026

What S 5153 does, verified January 8, 2026

The bill aims to prohibit the use of DNA phenotyping in criminal prosecutions and proceedings. DNA phenotyping is the process of predicting a person's physical biometric information and other characteristics based on their DNA. The bill makes the following key points: The law enforcement agencies and members of law enforcement are prohibited from contracting for DNA phenotyping services with public or private entities. The use of DNA phenotyping is also prohibited from being used as part of reasonable cause for arrest and is inadmissible as evidence in investigations and criminal proceedings. Convictions obtained through DNA phenotyping are eligible for relief under the criminal procedure law. The bill also allows for the enforcement of this section, including the issuance of injunctions to prevent or enforce the destruction of DNA phenotyping products and the mandating of changes in po…

Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO CODES (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 5153
What is the current status of S 5153?
As of January 8, 2026, S 5153 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO CODES".
Did S 5153 pass?
Not yet. S 5153 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
Who wrote S 5153, and where is it now?
S 5153 was authored by Sen. Michael Gianaris with 2 coauthors. Its committee of record is Senate Codes.
Recent actions2 total · showing 2
Jan. 07, 2026REFERRED TO CODES
Feb. 19, 2025REFERRED TO CODES
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 19, 2025 · 467 words
  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5153 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 19, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, BRISPORT, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting the use of DNA phenotyping in criminal prosecutions and proceedings The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 838-c 2 to read as follows: 3 § 838-c. DNA phenotyping. 1. As used in this section, the following 4 terms shall have the following meanings: 5 (a) "DNA phenotyping" shall mean the process of predicting a person's 6 physical biometric information and other observable physical or biochem- 7 ical characteristics, ancestry or familial connections based on an anal- 8 ysis of such person's DNA; and 9 (b) "physical biometric information" shall mean an individual's phys- 10 ical characteristics, including, but not limited to, eye color, hair 11 color, skin color, freckling and face shape. 12 2. No law enforcement agency or member of law enforcement shall 13 contract for DNA phenotyping services with any public or private entity. 14 3. No product or evidence that results or flows from the use of DNA 15 phenotyping may be used as part of reasonable cause for arrest, and any 16 product or evidence that results or flows from the use of DNA phenotyp- 17 ing is prohibited from use in an investigation. For criminal prose- 18 cutions and proceedings, any evidence or product that results or flows 19 from the use of DNA phenotyping is inadmissible. 20 4. Any conviction obtained, either directly or indirectly, through the 21 use of DNA phenotyping, shall be eligible for relief in accordance with 22 section 440.10 of the criminal procedure law. 23 5. In any action brought by any person to enforce this section, the 24 court may issue an injunction to restrain, prevent, or enforce any EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01793-01-5 

 S. 5153 2 1 violation of this section, including but not limited to, the destruction 2 of any product of DNA phenotyping. The court may mandate changes in the 3 policies and procedures of police department rules and guidelines when 4 such measures are required to remedy a violation under this section. 5 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 6 have become a law and any physical biometric information obtained as a 7 result of DNA phenotyping already in possession of law enforcement and 8 peace officers shall be immediately destroyed. 

Text of S 5153 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions
GovBuddy Demo

See how GovBuddy fits your team.

Share a few details and our team will follow up with a focused walkthrough.