NHGRI logo

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 Died

Establishing Healthy Maryland as a public corporation and a unit of State government to provide comprehensive universal health coverage for every Maryland resident. The Health Maryland Board must develop rules to promote nondiscrimination with respect to genetic information among members and providers. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Prohibits an agency, executive office, department, board, commission, bureau, division or authority of the commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, or any agent, contractor or subcontractor thereof, from acquiring, possessing, accessing or using any biometric surveillance system or any information derived from a biometric surveillance system operated by another entity. Allows certain exceptions such as the use of facial recognition technology by the registrar or motor vehicles. Biometric data is defined to include deoxyribonucleic acid. 7/14/20 Passed to be engrossed. Reprinted as amended, see S2820. Died.

Missouri Privacy Died

This bill requires a state agency or education institution to obtain written consent from parents or eligible students before collecting any certain data points, including a biometric record (defined to include DNA). Died.

New Jersey Other Topics Died

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

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits clients and modeling agencies from subjecting a model to harassment based on various characteristics, including predisposing genetic characteristics, where such harassment has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's provision of modeling services by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Died.

Rhode Island Privacy Died

Enacts the Consumer Protection privacy Act. Establishes consumer protections pertaining to the collection and use of personal information, including an individual's DNA, by businesses. Died.

Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires the legislative branch of the Commonwealth to develop a policy on workplace harassment. Workplace harassment is defined as any unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct that either denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward a person on the basis of various factors, including genetics. Died.

California Other Topics Died

A certified peace officer must have their certificate suspended or revoked, and an applicant must have their application for a certificate denied, upon a determination that the peace officer or applicant meets certain conditions. Requires the development of a definition of �serious misconduct," which will serve as the criteria to be considered for suspension or revocation of a certificate. This definition must include certain examples of serious misconduct such as bias in the performance of a peace officer or custodial officer�s duties, including, but not limited to, verbal statements, writings, online posts, recordings, and gestures involving prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of genetic information. Carries over to 2022.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires accident and health or sickness insurers to provide coverage for genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

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 Research Died

This bill states that any public health surveillance activity which is also research is subject to the requirements for research using human subjects. Died.

Minnesota Privacy Died

Businesses must conduct risk assessments of processing activities that involve sensitive consumer data, including genetic data. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Declares that an individual's genetic information and DNA sample are the property of the individual. Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 05/05/2016.

New York Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits discrimination based on genetic characteristics in life and disability insurance. Measure failed.

New York Privacy Died

Imposes requirements for the collection and use of emergency health data and personal information and the use of technology to aid during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Requires entities using technology to get consent from individuals and to disclose certain information including the right to privacy and who will have access to the data. Emergency health data is defined to include genetic data. Died.

Texas Other Topics Died

Proposes a Constitutional Amendment providing for the recognition of equal rights of all people. States that equality under the law may not be denied or abridged based on numerous factors, including genetic information. Died.

Wisconsin Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Permits the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) or a person who has been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty or genetic testing to bring an action in circuit court to recover compensatory and punitive damages caused by the act of discrimination or unfair honesty or genetic testing after the completion of all administrative proceedings before DWD and the Labor and Industry Review Commission concerning the violation. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Alaska Privacy Died

Excludes DNA samples collected in the course of the person's business of determining genetic genealogy from the state genetic privacy law. Died.

Florida Neonatal sequencing Died

Children?s Medical Services Program; Deleting a requirement that the Department of Health consult with the Department of Education before prescribing certain newborn testing and screening requirement...

Iowa Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Requires the Center for Congenital and Inherited Disorders to adopt rules to prohibit the retention and ensure proper disposal of residual newborn screening specimens. The Center must incinerate any residual specimens being stored before the effective date of the bill. Died.

California Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

This bill amends existing law pertaining to pregnancy blood samples. Existing law provides for the use of samples for approved research projects and establishes confidentiality and privacy protections with regard to samples and related personal information. This bill renames the term "pregnancy" blood samples by referring to them as "newborn" blood samples. Measure failed.

Displaying 1 - 25 of 1160

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