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The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2007-2020 U.S. state legislative sessions.

Overview

NHGRI's Table of State Statutes Related to Genomics provides the total number of states that have enacted legislation on the topics in the database, together with a description of each topic. 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.

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State Citation/Title Sort descending Topic(s) Bill Status Summary
New York 2020 State Bills
New York 2020 S7505
Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Declares that it is the policy of the state and all its political subdivisions to ensure a fair, non-biased compensation structure for all employees.  Status within one or more protected class or classes may not be considered directly or indirectly in determining proper compensation or pay for any individual or group of employees, and no employee with status within one or more protected class to classes may be paid a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee without status within the protected class or classes in same establishment is paid for similar work. Protected class includes predisposing genetic characteristic.  4/3/2020 Signed by the Governor.

New York 2020 State Bills
New York 2020 S7506
Other Topics Enacted

Requires the state university of New York to issue a request for proposals to partner with hospitals both within the state university of New York and other not-for-profit hospitals and non-profit higher education research institutions to map the genomes of individuals suffering from or at risk of Alzheimer's.  4/3/2020 Signed by the Governor.

Maryland 2020 State Bills
Maryland 2020 HB 1420
Other Topics Enacted

Prohibits a hospital from withholding financial assistance or from denying a patient's application for financial assistance based on genetic information.   Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective 10/1/2020.

Washington 2020 State Bills
Washington 2020 HB 2485
Privacy Died

Enacts measures to safeguard the privacy, confidentiality, security, and integrity of a consumer's genetic data resulting from direct-to-consumer genetic testing.  Died.  

Kentucky 2020 State Bills
Kentucky 2020 HB 21
Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Amends language pertaining to pre-existing condition exclusions in group health insurance. Prohibits group health benefit plan coverage from adjusting premium or contribution amounts for a group covered under the plan on the basis of genetic information.  Died.

Minnesota 2020 State Bills
Minnesota 2020 HF 3936
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.

Alabama 2020 State Bills
Alabama 2020 HB 266
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. 

 

Wisconsin 2020 State Bills
Wisconsin 2020 AB 870
Privacy Died

Requires controllers of consumers' personal data to provide a consumer with copies of the consumer's personal data processed by the controller. Personal data includes genetic information.  4/1/2020 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Connecticut 2020 State Bills
Connecticut 2020 SB 134
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.

Massachusetts 2020 State Bills
Massachusetts 2020 H.4886
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.

New York 2020 State Bills
New York 2020 A9505
Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Declares that it is the policy of the state and all its political subdivisions to ensure a fair, non-biased compensation structure for all employees.  Status within one or more protected class or classes may not be considered directly or indirectly in determining proper compensation or pay for any individual or group of employees, and no employee with status within one or more protected class to classes may be paid a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee without status within the protected class or classes in same establishment is paid for similar work. Protected class includes predisposing genetic characteristic.  4/3/2020 Signed by the Governor.

Rhode Island 2020 State Bills
Rhode Island 2020 S2430
Privacy Died

Creates the Consumer Privacy Protection Act.  Establishes requirements for the collection, use, sale, retention and disclosure of personal information by businesses. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Maryland 2020 State Bills
Maryland 2020 SB 875
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.

New York 2020 State Bills
New York 2020 S9073
Privacy Died

Establishes the It's Your Data Act to provide protections and transparency in the collection use retention and sharing of personal information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as a DNA sequence. Referred to Rules 10/28/2020. Died. 

Oklahoma 2020 State Bills
Oklahoma 2020 HB 2867
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.

Washington 2020 State Bills
Washington 2020 HB 2928
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.

Maine 2021 State Bills
Maine 2021 LD 29
Employment Nondiscrimination Enacted

Conforms the Maine Apprenticeship Program to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972. Requires a posting of statement that the apprentice will be accorded equal opportunity in all phases of apprenticeship employment and training, without discrimination because of various factors, including genetic information. 6/8/21 Signed by the Governor. Effective 90 days after adjournment (March 30, 2021). 

New York 2021 State Bills
New York 2021 S4021
Privacy Pending

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, including biometric data. Carries over to 2022. 

California 2021 State Bills
California 2021 SB 326
Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Authorizes an association of employers to offer a large group health care service plan contract or large group health insurance policy to small group employer members of the association consistent with federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if certain requirements are met. A policy or contract that is offered to or covers a small employer may not establish rules for eligibility, including continued eligibility, of an individual, or dependent of an individual, to enroll under the terms of the policy or contract based on various health status-related factors such as genetic information. 10/9/2021 Approved by the Governor. Effective 1/1/2022.

California 2021 State Bills
California 2021 AB 17
Other Topics Pending

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.

Minnesota 2021 State Bills
Minnesota 2021 HF 81
Other Topics Pending

Requires the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to establish a pharmacogenomics task force to evaluate and assess the current availability of pharmacogenomics statewide and to develop recommendations for making pharmacogenomics available statewide. Carries over to 2022 session. 

Texas 2021 State Bills
Texas 2021 SB 962
Privacy Died

Requires an individual or the individual’s authorized representative provide express consent for a person to: (1) obtain the individual ’s genetic material or genetic information; (2) perform a genetic analysis of the individual or any other analysis or test of the individual that requires the individual ’s genetic material; (3) retain the individual ’s genetic material or genetic information; or (4) disclose, including through sale or donation, the individual ’s genetic material or genetic information. Passed Senate. 5/17/2021 Referred to House Public Health Committee. Died. 

Maryland 2021 State Bills
Maryland 2021 HB 218
Privacy Died

Requires certain private entities in possession of biometric identifiers or biometric information to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a certain retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information. Biometric identifier is defined to includes a genetic print. The bill defines confidential and sensitive to include a genetic marker and genetic testing information. In the House - Withdrawn by Sponsor. Died.

North Carolina 2021 State Bills
North Carolina 221 SB 569
Privacy Pending

Creates the Consumer Data Privacy Act of North Carolina. Prohibits data controllers from processing sensitive data concerning a consumer without obtaining the consumer's consent, or, in the case of sensitive data concerning a known child, without processing such data in accordance with the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Sensitive data is defined to include the processing of genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person. Carries over to 2022. 

South Carolina 2021 State Bills
South Carolina 2021 HB 4555
Privacy Pending

Enacts the Parental Bill of Rights. Establishes certain rights of parents, including the right to consent in writing before any record of a child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order. Carries over to 2022. 

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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. 

  • 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: September 14, 2023