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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
Illinois Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill deletes provisions in the statutes related to pre-existing conditions and the treatment on genetic information as such a condition. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination or harassment based predisposing genetic characteristics of non-employees in the workplace. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Sets forth requirements for governmental units, including an executive, legislative or judicial agency, a department, a board, a commission, an authority, a public institution of higher education, or a unit or instrument of the state that collects or discloses personal information. Defines personal information to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Pertains to medical authorization required to release protected health information in a health care liability claim. Allows the patient or patient's personal or legal representative to exclude genetic information from the authorization. Died.

Wisconsin Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill allows a person discriminated against or the department of workforce development under the state fair employment practices law to bring an action in circuit court. Measure failed.

Michigan Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires employers of 50 or more individuals to post a notice that wage discrimination based on genetic information is prohibited under federal law. Died.

Missouri Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits a health carrier offering group health_insurance_coverage in connection with a group health plan from adjusting premium or contribution amounts for the group covered under such plan on the basis of genetic information. Such health carriers may request, but shall not require, that a participant or beneficiary undergo a genetic test if certain conditions are met. Died.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Prohibits an individual or group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, from requiring prior authorization for genetic biomarker testing for an enrollee or insured with metastatic or advanced stage 3 or 4 cancer. Died.

New Mexico Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill removes language in several sections of the statutes related to health insurance, which state that genetic information is not a health status factor. Measure failed.

Hawaii Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill requires health benefit plans to include lower deductibles and co-payments for non-tobacco smokers and others at low risk. Genetic factors and pre-existing conditions may not be considered a behavior. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Creates a company climate report system to assess the workplace environment of companies doing business in New York. Requires companies to submit biennial climate reports based on an anonymous survey of employees to assess the workplace environment including, but not limited to, pay equity, sexual harassment and discrimination based on various factors, an individual's predisposing genetic characteristics. Died.

Maine Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Topics, Privacy Died

No member, officer, employee or agent of a municipal housing authority may knowingly divulge or disclose personnel information declared confidential with some specified exceptions. Personal information, including genetic information, is considered confidential. Died.

South Dakota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

As introduced, this bill included a provision that prohibited pre-existing condition exclusions based on genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis. Measure failed.

Washington Privacy Died

Protects sensitive data of consumers, including genetic data. 1/13/2020 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. Died.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage, Other Topics Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage for certain genetically targeted drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Died.

Mississippi Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill creates the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act, which prohibits health benefits plans from denying, refusing or canceling health insurance benefits or coverage on the basis of genetic information or a request or receipt of genetic services. The bill also prohibits health benefit plan insurers from requesting or requiring a genetic test and from disclosing genetic information without prior written authorization. Penalties for violations are set forth. Measure failed.

Alabama Privacy Died

Prohibits state agencies, local education agencies, or local education institutions from administering any student survey, assessment, analysis, evaluation, or similar instrument that solicits certain information about the student or the family of the student, including biometric records. Biometric records are defined to include a DNA sequence. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Prohibits private entities from requiring an individual to disclose or provide biometric data, including DNA, as a condition of doing business with, engaging in any business activity or relationship with, or obtaining services from that private entity, unless the good, service, or activity provided by the private entity cannot be provided without the collection of biometric information from an individual. A private entity may not collect, use, or retain the biometric information of an individual without the individual's consent and shall not condition access to its good, service, or activity on the provision of biometric data. Died.

Delaware Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based upon genetic information in the issuance or renewal of disability, long-term care, and life insurance. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Every policy that provides medical coverage, including coverage for physician services in a physician's office, and every policy that provides major medical or similar comprehensive coverage must cover the cost of genetic testing and any subsequent treatment resulting from the results of the genetic test for people who are, in the opinion of a physician, at significant risk of contracting cancer. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

Creates the Consumer privacy Act. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as deoxyribonucleic acid. Provides consumers rights with regard to the collection and use of personal information businesses. Died.

North Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits an association health plan or sponsoring association from conditioning eligibility for coverage, including continuing eligibility for coverage, on health-status factors such as genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to make available to an applicant for a driver's license, an identification card, or a moped operator's permit the opportunity to upgrade to an enhanced identification document. A person who applies for enhanced identification must provide a biometric identifier, which may include DNA. Died.

Utah Privacy Died

Requires government agencies to provide an annual report to the state auditor detailing the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifying information, including DNA. Died.

Wisconsin Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

In selecting patients with whom to enter into a direct primary care agreement, a health care provider may not discriminate on the basis of genetic information. 4/1/2020 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Virginia Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits the treatment of genetic information as a preexisting condition in the Small Employer Health Insurance Exchange in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information. Measure failed.

Maryland Privacy Died

Amends statute requiring a business that maintains personal information of an individual residing in the State to implement and maintain certain security procedures and practices. The bill adds the following to the definition of personal information: genetic information with respect to an individual, including the genetic sample of an individual; the genetic test of an individual; the genetic test of an individual's family member; the manifestation of a disease or disorder in a family member of an individual; any request for and receipt of genetic counseling, or genetic education; and any information derived from genetic information with respect to an individual. In the Senate - First Reading Finance. Died.

Minnesota Other Topics Died

This bill requires any person who provides a specimen collection kit to a resident of Minnesota for the purpose of collecting genetic material to perform a genetic test to first provide the resident with the disclosure, as described in the legislation. The bill also requires a study to determine which companies and laboratories are providing direct-to-consumer genetic tests to Minnesota residents. Measure failed.

Montana Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Health insurance issuers offering individual health_insurance_coverage may not establish rules for eligibility, including continued eligibility, of any individual based on a health status-related factor, including genetic information, of the individual or a dependent of the individual. Died.

Colorado Health Insurance Coverage Died

Amends existing coverage requirements for breast cancer screening with mammography for individuals with a genetic predispoition to breast cancer. Requires all sickness and accident insurance policies to provide coverage for breast imaging for all individuals possessing at least one risk factor for breast cancer, including a family history of breast cancer, being 40 years of age or older, or a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. 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.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires individual policies of accident and health or sickness insurance to provide coverage for genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCAl or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

New York Privacy Died

Establishes the "It's Your Data Act" for the purposes of providing protections and transparency in the collection, use, retention, and sharing of personal information. Personal information includes biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Maryland Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits an insurer from requesting or requiring a genetic test or from using a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit life insurance coverage or benefits or to charge a different rate for the same coverage or benefits under an annuity contract; defining terms; and providing for an exception if the use is based on sound actuarial principles. Measure failed.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Allows the recipient of an organ transplant and referral hospital to examine all genetic records of the donor or prospective donor unless prohibited by any other law. Died.

West Virginia Privacy Died

The Division of Motor Vehicles or other state agency or department charged with motor vehicle registration or operation, the issuance or renewal of driver licenses or the issuance or renewal of any identification cards, must modify applications to include an exemption for a biometric and social security number religious exemption. Biometric data is defined to include DNA and RNA. Died.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits local or state administrative, legislative or regulatory body or instrumentality to from engaging in a discriminatory land use practice, including practices based on genetic information. Accompanied a study order, see H5081. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Enacts the Parents Matter Act. Parental rights include the right to be notified in advance and to refuse or to consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored or shared, with some exceptions. 2/23/2016 (S) Died In Committee.

Arizona Privacy Died

Prohibits schools and school service providers from collecting or possessing biometric information of elementary or secondary school students unless the school service provider: (1) develops a written policy for the collection, retention, disclosure and destruction of biometric information; and (2) obtains a written release to collect biometric information. Sets forth protections for biometric information, if collected. Biometric information is defined as information derived from any biometric identifier used to identify an individual. Died.

New Jersey Other Topics Died

Establishes New Jersey Pharmacogenomics Commission. Died.

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurers and long-term care insurers, except under certain circumstances, from canceling, limiting, or denying coverage, or establishing differentials in premium rates, based on genetic information. 3/10/2018 Died in Banking and Insurance.

New York Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Requires parental consent for newborn DNA storage. The bill states that no test, DNA, blood spot, or other genetic information may be retained with an infant's identifying information other than for the purpose of newborn screening without parental consent. Died.

Iowa Privacy Died

This bill modifies a provision related to personal information in the event of a security breach of computerized data. The definition of personal information is amended to include a deoxyribonucleic acid profile. Died.

Oklahoma Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Research Died

A health carrier offering health benefit plans providing individual market health_insurance_coverage may not (1) impose a pre-existing condition exclusion on the basis of genetic information, (2) establish rules for the eligibility, including continued eligibility, of any individual to enroll for coverage based on genetic information, (3) adjust premium or contribution amounts for an individual on the basis of genetic information concerning the individual or a family member of the individual, (4) request or require an individual or a family member of an individual to undergo a genetic test, or (5) request or require or purchase genetic information for underwriting purposes or to determine eligibility. A health carrier may request, but not require, that an individual or a family member of the individual undergo a genetic test if the request is made pursuant to research that complies with Part 46 of Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations or equivalent federal regulations and any applicable state or local law or regulations for the protection of human subjects in research and other criteria are met. Died.

Maryland Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires managers and supervisors in the Legislative and Executive branches of State government to immediately report certain incidents of workplace bullying, including bullying based on genetic information. 3/5/2019 Unfavorable Report by House Rules and Executive Nominations; Withdrawn.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Requires that certain state entities make a dedicated effort to encourage diversity and advance equity based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, disability, and language in any recommendations, policies, programs and initiatives developed. 1/5/2021 In Senate. No further action taken. Died.

Missouri Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill authorizes designated administrators to take action if it is determined that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act of discrimination prohibited under the state genetic nondiscrimination laws that applies to employers. Measure failed.

California Privacy Died

This bill states that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to protect individuals from the unauthorized use of their genetic information, ensure that genetic information is personal information that is not collected, stored, or disclosed without the individual's authorization, provide protections for the collection, storage, and authorized use of genetic information, and promote the use of genetic information for legitimate reasons, including, but not limited to, health care, research, advancement of medicine, and educational purposes, as the field of genomics advances. Died.

New Jersey Other Topics Died

Establishes New Jersey Pharmacogenomics Commission. Died.

Florida 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. 3/14/20/20 Died in Rules.

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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