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 Summary
Maryland Privacy Died

Amends the definition of biometric information under the Maryland Data privacy act. The definition of biometric information referring to a genetic print is stricken. The revised definition of biometric information includes physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including an individual's DNA, that can be used singly, in combination with each other, or with other identifying data to establish individual identity. 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.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires the University of Maryland to develop and adopt an information security and risk management program for the protection of personally identifiable information, including biometric information. Biometric information is defined as physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including an individual's DNA, that can be used singly, in combination with each other, or with other identifying data to establish individual identity. Died.

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.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Prohibits health insurers, health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health insurance plan or any person or organization that provides health benefits plans from excluding or limiting certain benefits or denying certain coverage based on a health-status related factor, including genetic information. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective upon enactment.

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.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information, including biometric information such as an individual's DNA, to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. Authorizes a consumer to submit a certain request for information to a business that collects the consumer's personal information. Requires a business to comply with a request for information within 45 days after receiving a request. 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.

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.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits any person whose business includes sponsoring, guaranteeing or granting funds or engaging in investment transactions from discriminating against any person in the sponsoring, guaranteeing or granting of funds or making available such funds, because of various factors, including genetic information. 2/27/2020 Accompanied study order. Died.

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.

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.

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. 11/30/2020 Reported out of Senate Conference Committee. See S2963 for report. Died.

Minnesota Privacy Died

Establishes requirements with regard to collection, sale of, and access to personal information by businesses. Personal information is defined to include genetic information. Died.

Minnesota 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.

Minnesota Privacy Died

The controller of a legal entity that conducts business in the state may not process sensitive data concerning a consumer without obtaining the consumer's consent, or, in the case of the processing of personal data concerning a known child, without obtaining consent from the child's parent or lawful guardian, in accordance with the children's online privacy protection act requirements. Sensitive data is defined to include genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person. The law does not apply to various types of information and entities such as protected health information under HIPAA and identifiable private information according to federal policy for the protection of human subjects. Died.

Minnesota 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.

Minnesota Privacy Died

Establishes the Minnesota Consumer Data privacy Act. Gives various rights to consumers regarding personal data. Personal data includes the processing of genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person. Places obligations on businesses regarding consumer data. 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.

Missouri Privacy Died

Prohibits a person or entity from disclosing, obtaining, retaining, or using any biometric data about an individual, including DNA, with whom the person or entity is engaged in trade or commerce for any purpose other than that which the individual reasonably expects. Died.

Nebraska Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires individual or group sickness and accident insurance policies or subscriber contracts; hospital, medical, or surgical expense-incurred policies; and any self-funded employee benefit plan to the extent not preempted by federal law shall to provide coverage for screening digital breast tomosynthesis and digital magnetic resonance imaging if a woman 40 or older has positive genetic testing. 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.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Grants consumers the right to request that a business disclose the type of personal information it collects, the purpose for which it is collected, and the categories of third parties with which it is shared. Authorizes consumers to opt out of the sale of their personal information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as an individual's DNA. 10/29/2020 Interim Study Report: Recommended for Future Legislation (Vote 10-5). Died.

New Jersey Privacy Died

Makes DNA samples and genetic information resulting from DNA analysis property of the person sampled or analyzed. Died.

New Jersey Other Topics Died

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

Displaying 651 - 675 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