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Genome Statute and Legislation Database

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2002-2024 U.S. state legislative sessions.

Overview

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is reviewed and updated monthly. Searchable topics in the database include employment and insurance discrimination, health insurance coverage, privacy, research, the use of residual newborn screening specimens and other topics of interest.

Definitions of terms such as "bill", "statute", and "regulation" are available through the Glossary of Statutory, Legislative, and Regulatory Terms.

For other helpful links and legislative databases, please see Additional Resources.

Search

State Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Sort descending Summary
New Hampshire Genetic data storage/privacy/sharing (medicine) Approved

Relative to conditions for genetic testing.

Texas Genetic data storage/privacy/sharing (industry) Approved

Relating to an individual's genetic data, including the use of that data by certain genetic testing companies for commercial purposes and the individual's property right in DNA; authorizing a civil p...

Pennsylvania Coverage and reimbursement Approved

An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for coverage for mammographic examinations and diagnost...

Montana Neonatal sequencing Approved

Revise laws related to collection of genetic material for newborn screenings.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Topics Died

Declares that it is the policy of the state to provide affordable health care to all regardless of various factors, including genetic information. Prohibits discrimination based on genetic information by a hospital; a person licensed or otherwise regulated by the Maryland Department of Health; and a person, including a health maintenance organization, that provides health benefits and has a certificate of authority from issued by the Maryland Department of Insurance. Died.

Minnesota Privacy Died

This bill amends the definition of genetic information and creates a new section of the state genetic privacy law to separate the provisions that apply to government entities versus any person. The requirements imposed on government entities and any person with respect to written informed consent and appropriate use of genetic information are identical. Measure failed.

Montana Health Insurance Coverage Died

Each group or individual medical expense, cancer, and blanket disability policy, certificate of insurance, and membership contract must provide minimum mammography examination coverage. The definition of minimum mammography examination is amended to include: a) a mammogram each year for a woman who is under 35 years of age if: (i) the woman has two or more first-degree family members diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer; (ii) genetic tests indicate the woman is at higher risk for breast cancer; or (iii) the woman's physician recommends the test. Died in Standing Committee on April 24, 2013.

New York Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits denial, cancellation or alteration of a life or disability insurance policy or group life or disability insurance policy, including renewals, on the basis of any genetic testing performed on a insured, applicant or family member of insured or applicant. Measure failed.

New York Privacy Died

Establishes a personal information bill of rights requiring parties having custody of residents' personal identifying information to ensure the security the information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Following discovery or notification of a breach of system security by an information holder, the information holder must disclose the breach of system security to any resident of the state whose personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person. Personal information includes a DNA profile. Died.

Washington Privacy Died

Establishes the parent's bill of rights. Requirements set forth in the bill include parental written consent before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared or stored unless required by law or court order. Died.

Connecticut Other Topics Died

Establishes a task force to require a study of the link between the abnormal genes associated with breast and ovarian cancers and the nerve death associated with Alzheimer's disease to improve diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment of such disease. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

Amends the Genetic Information privacy Act. Makes a technical change in a section concerning the short title. Died.

Maryland Other Topics, Privacy Died

Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to offer to an applicant for a driver's license, identification card, or moped operator's permit the opportunity to upgrade to an enhanced identification document. The enhanced ID will be embedded with memory and a microprocessor chip that stores biometric identifiers, which may include DNA. Died.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits a local or state administrative, legislative or regulatory body or instrumentality to engage in a discriminatory land use practice, including discrimination based on genetic information. Died.

Mississippi Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Creates a small business health insurance pool. WIth regard to the pool, genetic information may not be excluded as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to the genetic information. Died.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination Died

A person may not refuse to refer a job seeker for employment or to discriminate against a job seeker in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment to which the job seeker is referred because of certain characteristics, including genetic information. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and lung cancers, if recommended by a board-certified geneticist or board-certified genetic counselor. Died.

Ohio Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill creates the Ohio Health Benefit Exchange. The exchange must meet the minimum requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Died.

Vermont Other Topics, Privacy Died

Protects consumer privacy by requiring that a business that collects genetic data from a Vermont consumer to provide ancestry or similar information protects the data and keeps it confidential. Carries over to 2022.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires every health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract to provide coverage for genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) under certain circumstances. Died.

Florida Other Topics, Privacy Died

This bill prohibits DNA analysis and disclosure of DNA analysis results without authorization; prohibits the collection or retention of a DNA sample of another person without authorization for specified purposes; prohibits specified DNA analysis and disclosure of DNA analysis results without authorization, etc.

Kentucky Privacy Died

Establishes the parent's bill of rights. Requirements set forth in the bill include parental written consent before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared or stored unless required by law or court order. Died.

Maryland Other Topics Died

Prohibits a hospital or related institution from discriminating in admitting or providing care for an individual based on various factors, including genetic information. Died.

California Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires any contracting entity that contracts with independent contractors to provide services to, on behalf of, or through the contracting entity on a freelance or per-gig basis, or virtual platform that enables third parties, including independent contractors, to transact with one another for services, or through which independent contractors can market, promote, or advertise their services to third parties, to maintain a written policy against the discrimination of an independent contractor on the basis of genetic information and other factors. Summary based on version of bill as amended on 5/6/2020 when all language from prior introduced version of bill was stricken. Died.

Hawaii Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

The bill requires contractors and prospective contractors with the state or counties to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. Died.

Maine Privacy Died

Clarifies that certain personal information of municipal employees is confidential and a record or portion of a record containing that information in the possession of a municipal government is not a public record. Personal information includes genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. The bill defines biometric information to include an individual's DNA. In the Senate - First Reading Senate Rules. Died.

Minnesota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes the MinnesotaCare program. A managed care organization that contracts with the Commissioner as part of the program may not discriminate or use any policy that has the effect of discriminating against people on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Nevada Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill requires health insurers to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill creates the genetics advisory council. The council, if created, will study and make recommendations on various issues, including unfair discrimination by insurers and employers. Measure failed.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for ovarian and prostate cancers. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Establishes a personal property right to DNA samples. A person may not, without the informed, written consent of the individual or the individual's legal guardian or authorized representative: (1) collect a DNA sample from an individual; (2) perform a genetic test on an individual's DNA sample; or (3) retain an individual's DNA sample, with certain exceptions. Died.

West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage of a comprehensive ultrasound screening if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other indications as determined by a woman�s physician or advanced practice nurse. To House Banking and Insurance 02/23/21. Died.

Alabama Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits health benefit plans, life insurers, and long term care insurers from (1) using an individual's genetic information to deny him or her insurance or to establish differentials in premium rates, or (2) requiring or soliciting genetic information, using genetic test results, or considering an individual's decisions or actions relating to genetic testing in any manner for insurance purposes. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires individual and group health insurers to provide benefits or coverage for periodic colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests for individuals over 50 and for individuals under 50 who are considered high risk. Definition of high risk includes individuals who, because of the presence of recognized genetic markers, face a higher than normal risk of colorectal cancer. Measure failed.

Indiana Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Amends the state's newborn screening statute. The bill requires consent to release newborn's residual blood specimen for epidemiological survey and research. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain state and local governmental units to secure by encryption personal information of an individual that the unit has collected as computerized data. Personal information includes a genetic print or image. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Amends data security protections to include biometric information, which is defined to include genetic information. 2/13/2020 In senate. Accompanied a study order. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Enacts the Consumer privacy Act. Provides certain rights to consumers such as the right to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected and the right to require a business to delete personal information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA sequences. 02/05 (H) Died In Committee

New Jersey Other Topics Died

Prohibits discrimination in health programs or activities based on certain factors, including genetic information. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and lung cancers. Died.

Oklahoma Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination in the selection of job applications, interviewing of job applicants, hiring of job applicants, firing of employees, treatment of employees, or payment of wages on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Virginia Privacy Died

This bill regulates the collection and maintenance of personally identifiable information, including DNA, by education agencies. Died.

Missouri Privacy Died

Prohibits school districts from collecting biometric information on any student without the express written consent of the student�s parent or legal guardian. Biometric information is defined to include a DNA sequence and newborn screening information. Died.

New Jersey Privacy Died

Prohibits a teaching staff member employed by a board of education from inputting the individually identifiable health information of a student or members of a student�s family, or conversations concerning such information, into a third party software application managed by an entity that engages in partisan political activity. The bill defines individually identifiable health information as any information, including genetic or vaccination information, relating to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual that either identifies the individual or could reasonably be used to identify the individual. Died.

New York Privacy Died

Enacts the Personal Information Protection Act. Establishes a personal information bill of rights requiring parties having custody of residents' personal identifying information to ensure the security of this information. Personal information includes DNA samples. Died.

South Carolina Health Insurance Coverage Died

Existing law requires individual and group health insurers to cover mammograms. This bill requires that Coverage for mammograms required in subsection (A)(1) must include benefits for comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on: (a) the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology; or (b) if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse. Died.

Washington Other Topics Died

Restricts genome editing of human embryos. Died.

Colorado Privacy, Research Died

Establishes a parental bill of rights. Requirements include parental consent in writing before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared, or stored, unless such blood or DNA is otherwise required by law or court order. Died.

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Additional Resources

Cornell Legal Information Institute
This website allows users to search for Federal and state laws and regulations. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include regulations.

LawSeqSM Database
Developed at the University of Minnesota and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, this database allows users to search federal and state statutes, regulations, and reported judicial decisions. The database allows searches by jurisdiction (federal, state, and individuals states), source type, topic, and open text. This resource was developed by a project funded by NHGRI and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on “LawSeqSM: Building a Sound Legal Foundation for Translating Genomics into Clinical Application” (grant #: R01HG008605; Susan M. Wolf,. Ellen Wright Clayton, and Frances Lawrenz, principal investigators). The team keeps this database up to date.

National Society of Genetic Counselors
To find information about state genetic counselor licensing laws, visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ website. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include state laws related to genetic counseling. 

Last updated: February 8, 2024