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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
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 Other Topics Died

Prohibits a hospital from withholding financial assistance or from denying a patient's application for financial assistance based on genetic information. Died.

Minnesota Privacy, Research Died

This bill creates personal property rights human biological specimens, defined as tissues, organs and body parts from which DNA may be isolated and requires written informed consent for the use of biological specimens in medical or genetic research. Consent forms must provide at least three options, including consent for a specific research project, consent for future research projects that are yet undefined, or consent for future research projects that are yet undefined, contingent on the research entity returning to seek specific written informed consent if the project is or could be considered controversial. The bill allows limited use of biological specimens for the calibration of laboratory equipment. Measure failed.

Montana Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

A health insurance issuer offering individual health_insurance_coverage in this state may not establish rules for eligibility or adjust premiums for any individual or individual's dependent to enroll in individual health_insurance_coverage based on genetic information. Individual health insurance issuers also may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion on the basis of genetic information or request or require an individual or a family member of an individual to undergo a genetic test. Died in Standing Committee.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires health insurers to cover genetic testing of persons with a family history of cancer when the attending physician determines such person has a significant risk of cancer. Measure failed.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive screening for ovarian cancer for persons at high risk, including genetic testing. Died.

Tennessee Other Topics Died

Creates a genetic advisory committee. Substituted by 2019 SB 127, which became Pub. Ch. 43 April 3, 2019.

West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires insurance coverage of a comprehensive ultrasound screening of breast if a woman is believed to be at increased risk of cancer based on several factors, including positive genetic testing. 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.

Kentucky Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

This bill prohibits the adjustment of premium or contribution amounts based on genetic information; prohibits an insurer from requesting or requiring a genetic test of a member unless made pursuant to the Common Rule, equivalent federal regulations or any applicable administrative regulation for the protection of human subjects in research; prohibits the use of genetic information for underwriting purposes; prohibits the request, requirement, or purchase of genetic information by an insurer prior to an individual's enrollment under a plan; precludes insurers from requiring genetic information for eligibility for health insurance in the individual market; and prohibits the use of genetic information for the purpose of imposing any pre-existing condition exclusion. Measure failed.

Maryland Other Topics Died

A hospital or related institution may not discriminate in admitting or providing personal care based on genetic information. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Prohibits a public agency or public official from: (1) acquiring, possessing, accessing, using, or assisting with the use of or provide resources for the development or use of any biometric surveillance system, or (2) entering into a contract with or making a request to any third party for the purpose of acquiring, possessing, accessing or using information derived from a biometric surveillance system, unless expressly authorized by law. Biometric data is defined to include deoxyribonucleic acid. Died.

Mississippi Other Topics Died

Allows parents to request exemption of their children from certain activities during a school year, including the collection, tracking, housing, reporting, selling, or sharing with any party outside of the local school district, of noneducational-related information on my child or my family, including, but not limited to DNA sequences. 02/05 (S) Died In Committee.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Declares that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer based on certain factors to require an employee who is the parent or legal guardian of a school aged child to be physically present for work, when that work can be performed remotely, during the public health emergency and state of emergency declared by the Governor. Specified factors include genetic information or the refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available the results of a genetic test. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive screening for ovarian cancer. Additional coverage for computed tomography, barium enema X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography, laparoscopy, colonoscopy and biopsy if a person is at increased risk for ovarian cancer due to specified factors, including positive genetic testing. Died.

Oregon Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill creates the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange and prohibits the treatment of genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis as a pre-existing condition in the exchange. Measure failed.

Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes policies to prevent workplace harassment in the legislative branch. Workplace harassment is defined as unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct that either denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward a person on the basis of certain characteristics, including genetics, that (i) has the purpose or effect of creating an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive; (ii) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee's work performance; or (iii) affects an employee's employment opportunities or compensation. 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.

Idaho Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

The bill amends the state genetic nondiscrimination law by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of genetic information or a genetic test in the issuance of coverage, or the fixing of rates, terms or conditions, for any policy or contract of hospital or medical insurance or any health benefit plan. Measure failed.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill repeals an exemption for disability insurance under the state genetic nondiscrimination law and amends the definition of genetic information used in the health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. Measure failed.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires individual accident and sickness policies, individual and group hospital service plans, the group insurance commissionplan for active and retired employees, and individual or group medical service agreement and health maintenance contract to provide benefits on a nondiscrminatory basis for diagnosis and treatment of autism. Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders is defined to include genetic testing. Accompanied a new draft 2010 H. 4935, which was enacted.

Minnesota Other Topics Died

Establishes a pharmacogenetics task force. Died.

Nevada Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires the State Plan for Medicaid to pay the nonfederal share of expenditures incurred to perform genetic testing to detect birth defects in the fetus of a pregnant woman who is 40 years of age or older. Died.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits group or blanket policies that cover 51 or more employees for hospital, medical, major medical, or similar type comprehensive coverage from excluding members or dependents or establishing rates based on predisposing genetic characteristics. The bill also prohibits health insurers from requiring or using tests for or information about predisposing genetic characteristics for underwriting. The same restrictions are imposed upon hospital service corporations, health services corporation and medical expense indemnity corporations covering 51 or more employees. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits an employer, licensing agency, employment agency, or labor organization from subjecting an individual to discriminatory harassment based on various factors, including predisposing genetic characteristics. Prohibits subjecting domestic workers to unwelcome harassment based on genetic information. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Prohibits a governmental body from capturing or possessing a biometric identified, defined to include DNA, unless it has specific, explicit statutory or has the written consent of the individual or the individual's legal guardian. Died.

West Virginia Privacy Died

Requires a business that collects personal information about consumers to maintain an online privacy policy, make such policy available on its Internet website, and update the information at least once every 12 months. Personal information includes biometric information such as an individual's DNA. 3/15/2021 To House Judiciary. Died.

Arizona Other Topics Died

Prohibits placing an inmate in isolated confinement based on certain factors, including genetic information. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates the Healthy Florida program to be administered by the Healthy Florida Board. Every resident of Florida is eligible and entitled to enroll under the Healthy Florida program. The program may not discriminate based on genetic information. 3/10/2018 Died in Banking and Insurance.

Wisconsin Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Amends health insurance law pertaining to pre-existing conditions. Insurers may not treat genetic information as a pre-existing condition. Provision stating "without a diagnosis of a condition related to the information" is stricken. 3/28/2018 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires a health care service plan contract or a health insurance policy that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, to provide coverage for genetic testing for Lynch syndrome. Died.

Florida Privacy Died

Creates the Florida privacy Protection Act. Requires certain businesses that collect consumer personal information to provide certain information to the consumer. Provides that consumers have the right to direct certain businesses not to sell their personal information. Prohibits businesses from selling the personal information of consumers younger than a specified age without express authorization from the consumer or the consumer�s parent or guardian under certain circumstances. Authorizes consumers to initiate civil actions for violations. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. 4/28/21 Read 2nd time. Substituted CS/CS/CS/HB 969 (Died in returning Messages). Laid on Table - SJ 753.

Kentucky Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes health-status eligibility rules for health benefit plans in any market. Prohibits requiring a greater premium or contribution, or different benefits coverage, on the basis of any health status-related factor, including genetic information. Prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions. Prohibits adjustment of premium or contribution amounts for group health plans on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Establishes consumer protections pertaining to the collection, possession, use, disclosure and retention of biometric identifiers. Biometric information is defined to include genetic markers and genetic testing information. Died.

Michigan Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires employers of 50 people or more to post a notice that it is illegal under federal law to pay employees different wages for the same work based on certain criteria, including genetic information. Died.

Missouri Privacy Died

Prohibits school district from collecting biometric information on any student without express written consent of the student�s parent or legal guardian. Biometric information includes a DNA sequence. 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

Establishes a personal information bill of rights. Declares the right of all New Yorkers to have their personal information, including DNA, protected. Died.

South Carolina Privacy Died

Sets forth requirements for the collection and use of consumer biometric information by businesses. Biometric information is defined to include an individual's DNA. Died.

Washington Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Concerns harassment and discrimination by legislators and legislative branch employees, including discrimination based on genetic status. Substitute bill, which did not include genetic discirmination provision, was enacted.

Connecticut Privacy Died

Requires businesses to disclose the proposed use of any personal information and to give consumers the right to discover what personal information the business possesses. Consumers may opt out of the sale of such information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA which can be used to identify an individual. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

Amends the School Code to add provisions concerning student and educator data privacy. Protections cover biometric records, defined to include DNA. Died.

Maryland Other Topics, Privacy Died

Permits a health insurance carrier to make available upon request an upgrade to a biometric health care identification card that can securely validate one's identity and access his or her medical history. Biometric identification is defined to include DNA. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Requires the department of consumer affairs and business to adopt regulations relative to any person that owns or licenses personal information about a resident of the commonwealth. Personal information includes biometric indicators (or any unique biological attribute or measurement that can be used to authenticate the identity of an individual, including but not limited to fingerprints, genetic information, iris or retina patterns, facial characteristics, or hand geometry). 6/27/2018 Accompanied a study order, see H4648.

Mississippi Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits employers from using genetic testing for discriminatory purposes. Civil and criminal penalties for violations are set forth. Measure failed.

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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