The "Carla Walker Act" establishes new grant programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to significantly improve State and local forensic activities, particularly in the area of DNA analysis. It defines forensic analysis as an expert examination of physical evidence for criminal acts and forensic laboratory as an accredited facility performing such analysis.

One grant program, DNA Analysis Grants, allows the Attorney General to award competitive grants to eligible entities, including States, law enforcement agencies, and medical examiners. These grants fund the use of whole genome sequencing technology to assess at least 100,000 genetic markers, compatible with genealogical databases, to generate investigative leads for criminal investigations or unidentified human remains when traditional methods like CODIS have failed. Grant funds can also be used to outsource these specialized DNA analyses to accredited or accrediting forensic laboratories, ensuring adherence to the Department of Justice's "Interim Policy on Forensic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching."

A second grant program provides funding for purchasing forensic equipment specifically enabled for forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching. Eligible entities for this program include publicly funded and accredited forensic laboratories, medical examiners' offices, and coroners' offices. Both grant programs are authorized for $5,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with specific limitations on how the funds can be used.

The bill includes administrative provisions requiring grant recipients to maintain detailed records and allowing the Attorney General access for audits to ensure compliance with federal regulations and DOJ policies. Furthermore, eligible entities must submit annual reports detailing funding usage, the number of cases tested, types of testing performed, and the outcomes of forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis, such as successful identifications or arrests. The Attorney General is also mandated to submit a report to Congress within two years on the program's practices, implementation of forensic genetic genealogy, and recommendations for future regulations and funding needs.