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
Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage, without any out-of-pocket expense, for: (1) diagnostic and screening mammograms, breast ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging of breasts for all insureds; (2) breast biopsies for all insureds, and (3) prophylactic mastectomies and breast reconstruction surgery for all insureds who have the harmful variant of breast cancer gene one (BRCA1), breast cancer gene two (BRCA2) or any similar gene variant that materially increases breast cancer risk. 1/27/2021 Referred to Joint Committee on Insurance and Real Estate.

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.

Illinois Privacy Died

Amends the Genetic Information privacy Act provisions concerning uses and disclosures. Provides that various uses or disclosures of a patient's genetic information may not (rather than may) occur without the patient's consent. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Allows the Motor Vehicle Administration to offer enhanced identification. An individual who applies for enhanced identification may be asked to provide biometric identification, which is defined to include DNA. Died.

Massachusetts Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Adds new section to unlawful employment practices statute. 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 genetic information and other factors. 11/16/2020 Accompanied a study order, see S2953. Died.

Mississippi Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires group or individual policies, contracts or certificates of health insurance issued or renewed to cover comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse. 1/30/2018 Died in committee.

New Jersey Privacy Died

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

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires accident and health insurance policies to cover the cost of genetic testing of persons with a family history of cancer. Coverage must include testing and any subsequent treatment based on the results of the test for people with a significant risk of contracting cancer. Died.

Oklahoma Other Topics Died

Prohibits unlawful housing discriminatory practices based on genetic information. Died.

California Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates the Healthy California Board, which is responsible for the establishment of the Healthy California program to provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage and a health care cost control system for the benefit of all residents of the state. Consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Board must promote nondiscrimination with respect to members and health care providers on the basis of genetic information and other characteristics. Died.

Virginia Parentage law Died

Provides that
any person who knowingly gives any false information or makes any
false statements for the purpose of determining paternity is guilty
of a Class 6 felony. The bill further requires an a...

Georgia Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

This bill creates guidelines such as consent requirements for the creation and storage of biometric information, which is defined to include DNA samples. The bill also prohibits life insurers from requiring genetic information to determine an applicants eligibility or rates to be charged for life insurance; however, any pre-existing genetic information must be supplied to the insurance company upon application. The bill forbids employers or employment agencies from using information derived from genetic testing for identification purposes or as a condition of employment. The bill provides remedies for individuals whose genetic information is inappropriately used. Measure failed.

Louisiana Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Retains present law and extends the definition of "discriminatory practice in connection with employment" to include all of the discrimination statutes in present law, which would add veterans, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sickle cell trait, and genetic information. Died.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes the Healthy Maryland Program. Requires the Board to establish requirements and standards to consistent with state nondiscrimination laws, including those pertaining to genetic information. Participating providers may not refuse to provide health care services on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Missouri Privacy Died

Requires state education agencies to obtain parental consent to collect biometric records from parents, K-12 students or through data sharing agreements with any other entity. Biometric records are defined to include DNA sequences. Died.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Topics Died

Requires adoption of and training on anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy by certain campaign committees. Protected category includes genetic information. Died.

New York Other Topics Died

Prohibits the distribution of consumers' DNA profiles submitted to direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies. Requires companies to provide a copy of their privacy policy to any consumer that submits a DNA sample and provides for civil penalties for violations of these provisions. Died.

South Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research Died

This bill amends existing statute sections and creates new statute sections pertaining to health_insurance_nondiscrimination, genetic privacy, research issues and enforcement of these provisions. Measure failed.

California Privacy Died

Requires a genealogy company, defined as a person that is not subject to HIPAA and obtains the DNA of a person through submission of a saliva sample or other methods, to display a notice in all advertising, it�s privacy policies, at the point of sale of the product, and on product packaging. The notice must contain information about the company's privacy policy. Died.

Washington Privacy Died

Protects consumer data. Original version of bill included genetic data in the definition of sensitive information, but it was removed from the substitute bill version. 1/13/2020 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Died.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

Maine Privacy Died

Establishes consumer rights with respect to personal information collected by a business. Personal information includes biometric information. Biometric information is defined to include deoxyribonucleic acid. Died Between Houses, Jun 2, 2021.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Adds biometric indicators to the state data security protection law. Biometric indicator is defined as 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. 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.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Adds biometric information to the Consumer Protection Act. Died.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill establishes a genetics advisory council to study various topics, including the use of any genetic test by insurers, employers or educational institutions, including the potential for compromising the individual liberties and civil rights of individuals or causing individuals to suffer unfair discrimination. Died.

North Carolina Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Topics, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discriminatory housing practices based on protected status, which includes genetic information. Declares that it is the public policy of the State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all individuals to seek, obtain and hold employment without discrimination or abridgement on account of certain characteristics, including genetic information. Also prohibits insurers from refusing to insure or refusing to continue to insure an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage, based on genetic information. School boards also must adopt a policy to establish that the local board of education and school personnel employed by the local board may not discriminate based on genetic information. Charter and nonpublic schools may not discriminate based on genetic information. Died.

Alaska Privacy Died

Establishes the Consumer Data privacy Act. Requires businesses to notify consumers before the collection of personal information. Consumers may opt out of the sale of personal information. Businesses must maintain privacy policies available online describing consumer's privacy rights such as the designated methods in which the consumer can request access or deletion of personal information. Biometric information, including deoxyribonucleic acid, is considered personal information. Carries over to 2022 session.

Texas Privacy Died

Prohibits a state agency from disseminating to any person any personal data of an individual without the individual �s written consent. A state agency must retain the written consent of an individual obtained per certain requirements. A state agency may not require an individual to consent to dissemination of the individual�s personal data in exchange for access to the services provided by the agency or to the agency�s Internet website. 3/3/2021 Referred to Finance. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends Florida's health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. The bill removes the exemption for life, disability and long-term care insurance under existing law and states that the law applies to other lines of insurance. Died.

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.

Iowa Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research Died

This bill prohibits health insurers from discriminating based on genetic information or tests. Authorization is required to obtain genetic information or samples. Consent requirements are established to collect, retain, transmit or use genetic information. Exceptions under consent requirements include medical or scientific research and eduction and for use in medical repositories and registries if it does not contain personally identifiable information. Health insurers may not release genetic information without prior written authorization. Exceptions for release requirements include (1) if an individual is participating in research settings, including those governed by the federal policy for the protection of human subjects, and (2) tests conducted purely for research. Measure failed.

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.

Michigan Privacy Died

This bill requires the Department of Community Health to develop a model written, informed consent form for genetic testing. Health care professionals must have test subjects complete the form prior to ordering genetic testing. 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.

Minnesota Privacy Died

This bill amends the definition of genetic information and creates a new section of the state genetic privacy law to separate the provisions that apply to government entities versus any person. The requirements imposed on government entities and any person with respect to written informed consent and appropriate use of genetic information are identical. Measure failed.

Montana Health Insurance Coverage Died

Each group or individual medical expense, cancer, and blanket disability policy, certificate of insurance, and membership contract must provide minimum mammography examination coverage. The definition of minimum mammography examination is amended to include: a) a mammogram each year for a woman who is under 35 years of age if: (i) the woman has two or more first-degree family members diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer; (ii) genetic tests indicate the woman is at higher risk for breast cancer; or (iii) the woman's physician recommends the test. Died in Standing Committee on April 24, 2013.

New York Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits denial, cancellation or alteration of a life or disability insurance policy or group life or disability insurance policy, including renewals, on the basis of any genetic testing performed on a insured, applicant or family member of insured or applicant. Measure failed.

New York Privacy Died

Establishes a personal information bill of rights requiring parties having custody of residents' personal identifying information to ensure the security the information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Following discovery or notification of a breach of system security by an information holder, the information holder must disclose the breach of system security to any resident of the state whose personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person. Personal information includes a DNA profile. Died.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

Adds tomosynthesis to health_insurance_coverage requirements if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse. Died.

Washington 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.

Idaho Privacy Died

Unless explicitly mandated by federal statute, a state agency, district or education institution must obtain written consent from parents or eligible students before collecting biometric records, defined to include a DNA sequence. Died.

Maryland Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends the employment discrimination law to state that an unlawful employment practice is established, including discrimination based on genetic information, when the complainant demonstrates that genetic information was a motivating factor for any employment practice even though other factors motivated the practice. Measure failed.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits a local or state administrative, legislative or regulatory body or instrumentality to engage in a discriminatory land use practice, including discrimination based on genetic information. Died.

Mississippi Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Creates a small business health insurance pool. WIth regard to the pool, genetic information may not be excluded as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to the genetic information. Died.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination Died

A person may not refuse to refer a job seeker for employment or to discriminate against a job seeker in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment to which the job seeker is referred because of certain characteristics, including genetic information. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and lung cancers, if recommended by a board-certified geneticist or board-certified genetic counselor. Died.

Ohio Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill creates the Ohio Health Benefit Exchange. The exchange must meet the minimum requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Died.

Arkansas Privacy Died

Enacts the Parents' Bill of Rights. A parent must consent in writing before a biometric scan of a minor child or a record of a minor child's blood or DNA is created, shared, or stored. April 2, 2015 Recommended for study in the Interim by Joint Interim Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE

Displaying 51 - 100 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