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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
Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires each legislative branch agency to adopt and implement the Commonwealth Workplace Harassment Policy established by the Department of Human Resource Management. Workplace harassment is defined to include harassment based on genetic information. Died.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

A health insurance policy that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022, may not apply a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance to coverage for screening services for prostate cancer for an insured who meets certain criteria. A person is 40 years of age or older and who is high risk, as determined by the attending or treating health care provider meets the criteria. High risk includes, but is not limited to, a person with a prostate who is Black, has a family history of prostate cancer, has a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer, or is a veteran. Carries over to 2022.

Hawaii Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

The bill requires contractors and prospective contractors with the state or counties to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. Died.

Maine Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

In the absence of a medical diagnosis of a disease, disorder or syndrome related to genetic information, a health insurer, life insurer or long-term care insurer may not cancel, limit or deny coverage or establish differentials in premium rates based on such genetic information. A health insurer, life insurer or long-term care insurer may not request, require, purchase or otherwise solicit genetic information; use genetic test results; or consider an individual's decisions or actions relating to genetic testing in any manner for any insurance purpose. 6/10/2021 Reports Read. On motion by Senator Sanborn of Cumberland the Majority Ought Not to Pass. Report accepted. In concurrence. Placed in Legislative Files. Died.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

This bill creates the Genetic Bill of RIghts. Genetic information is declared the exclusive property of the individual from whom the information is obtained. The bill also prohibits disclosure of genetic information without informed written consent. The bill excludes newborn screening blood specimens from the definition of genetic information. The bill also excludes research from consent requirements when genetic information is held by particular entities if the information is confidential research information for use in epidemiological or clinical research conducted for the purpose of generating scientific knowledge about genes or learning about the genetic basis of disease or for developing pharmaceutical and other treatments of disease. Measure failed.

Minnesota Privacy Died

Modifies existing law pertaining to the use of genetic information by government entities and enacts a new consumer protection law regarding the use of genetic information. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

This bill restricts the collection of biometric data, including DNA or RNA, by state agencies, municipalities, and political subdivisions. Died.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

his bill prohibits the use of genetic information for community rating to develop small group health insurance premiums. The bill also prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions in small group health insurance policies based on genetic predisposition. 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 Privacy Died

Limits the use of biometric identifiers by governmental bodies. Biometric identifiers are defined to include a DNA sample. Died.

West Virginia Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Requires health benefit plans to provide insurance to persons without regard to their health status. Prohibits insurers from using genetic information in decisions regarding premium, deductible, copay or coinsurance. 3/5/2021 To Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. 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.

Florida Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits appointments, terminations, assignments, and maintenance of status, compensation, privileges and other terms and conditions of employment in the state personnel system based on genetic information. Measure failed.

Indiana Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

An insurer that issues an individual or group policy of accident and sickness insurance, small employer group health insurance plans, and health maintenance organization contracts may not establish rules for eligibility of an individual to enroll or continued enrollment based on any of the following health status related factors, including genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires a business, when destroying an employee's or a former employee's records that contain personal information, including a genetic print, to take steps to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. States when a business that owns, licenses, or maintains computerized data containing personal information must investigate a security breach. Died.

Arizona Privacy Died

Amends the state genetic privacy law. Declares genetic testing and the information derived from it, whether in the possession of a public or private entity, to be the exclusive private property of the person tested. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates Healthy Florida Program for purpose of comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage. The Board of the program must establish requirements and standards to promote nondiscrimination, including based on genetic information. Died.

Kentucky Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Makes technical changes to state statutes that prohibit the use of pre-existing condition exclusions based on genetic information. Clarifies that the prohibition applies to all insurers that offer any health benefit plan coverage. 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. 3/11/2019 Unfavorable Report by Finance; Withdrawn.

Michigan Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires employers of 50 people or more to post a notice that it is illegal under federal law to pay employees different wages for the same work based on certain criteria, including genetic information. Died.

Missouri Privacy Died

Prohibits school districts from collecting biometric information on students without the express written consent of parents or legal guardians. Biometric information is defined to include a DNA sequence. Died.

New Mexico Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill enacts the Uniform Protection of Genetic Information in Employment Act on employee access to genetic information, confidentiality and retention of genetic information and disclosure of genetic information. Measure failed.

New York Privacy Died

Enacts the Personal Information Protection Act. Establishes a personal information bill of rights requiring parties having custody of residents' personal identifying information to ensure the security of this information. Personal information includes DNA samples. Died.

South Dakota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions based on genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis. Measure failed.

Washington Privacy Died

Seeks to increase consumer data transparency. The bill address consumer biometric information, which is defined to include DNA. Died.

Colorado 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. 02/13/2020 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely.

Idaho Privacy Died

Regulates the collection, possession and disclosure of biometric identifiers, defined to include human DNA, by private entities. Died.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill provides an individual with a right to civil if the state genetic nondiscrimination insurance statutes are violated. Measure failed.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage Died

The public employee retirement commission, individual and group accident and sickness insurers, individual or group hospital service plans, individual or group medical service agreements, and individual or group health maintenance contracts must cover colorectal cancer screening as determined medically necessary by a physician. Coverage requirements include KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA arrays. 7/18/2018 Accompanied a study order, see H4778.

Mississippi Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy 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.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Prohibits information or service providers from directly or indirectly transferring, disclosing or otherwise making available to any person or government any personal information, including genetic profiles and DNA/RNA, related to individuals without written consent. 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.

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

Declares that it is the public policy of the State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all individuals to (1) enjoy fully and equally the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of places of public accommodations free of discrimination; and 2) 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.

Utah Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Removes provisions regulating an employer's and a health insurer's use of personal genetic information. Died.

Wisconsin Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Allows the Department of Workforce Development or an individual who is alleged or was found to have been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty or genetic testing to bring an action in circuit court in addition to or in lieu of filing an administrative complaint, with some exceptions. 4/1/2020 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

New Jersey Privacy Died

This bill sets forth privacy protections for personally identifiable information collected by businesses. Personally identifiable information includes biometric data such as DNA. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

The bill requires every policy of hospital, surgical or medical care or policies that provide reimbursement for laboratory tests or diagnostic X-rays must provide coverage for testing of familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs. Died.

Oklahoma Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends statutes pertaining to discriminatory practices in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The bill provides exclusive remedies for individuals alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of genetic information. Measure failed.

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.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Prohibits a health care service plan contract or a health insurance policy that covers prescription drug benefits from denying or otherwise limiting coverage of a genetically targeted drug for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy under specified circumstances. Died.

Florida Privacy Died

Creates the Florida privacy Protection Act. Requires collectors to provide notice to consumers about data collection and selling practices. Provides consumers right to request data be disclosed, deleted, or corrected and to opt-in or opt-out of sale or sharing of such data. Provides nondiscrimination measures, methods for requesting data and opting-in or opting-out of sale or sharing of such data, private cause of action, enforcement, and jurisdiction. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. 4/30/21 Died in returning messages.

Louisiana Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill changes the person in charge of promulgating regulations for genetic monitoring from the executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission to the chairman of the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights. Measure failed.

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.

Maryland Other Topics Died

Requires the Maryland Department of Health to do the following: (1) by January 1, 2023, develop gene sequence and customer screening guidelines for gene synthesis providers and manufacturers of gene synthesis equipment that include certain requirements; (2) develop a process to certify that gene synthesis providers and manufacturers of gene synthesis equipment are in compliance with the guidelines requiring, on or after January 1, 2024, the Department to certify certain gene synthesis providers and equipment manufacturers. Gene synthesis provider does not include a research scientist making gene synthesis products for the research scientist's own use or for use by another research scientist. In the House - Withdrawn by Sponsor. 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 Privacy Died

This bill requires parental consent or consent from a student 18 years or older prior to collecting or recording biometric data, which is defined to include a DNA sequence. Died.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits the use of genetic information for community rating to develop small group health insurance premiums. The bill also prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions in small group health insurance policies based on genetic predisposition. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

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

Tennessee 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.

West Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research Died

This bill creates the Genetic Information privacy Act. Genetic testing and genetic information derived from testing may be released only to the individual tested or people specifically given written authorization to receive the information by the individual. Accident and health insurers may not request or seek information derived from genetic testing. If the federal government or others propose guidelines, the bill authorizes the insurance commissioner to propose rules to authorize further disclosure of information derived from genetic testing for insurance purposes beyond what is permitted in the legislation. The bill requires employers to treat information derived from genetic testing in a manner consistent with federal law, including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Exclusions under the definition of genetic testing includes research governed by the Common Rule, tests conducted purely for research, tests for somatic as opposed to heritable mutations, tests where direct personal identifiers that reveal the patients identity are encoded or encrypted and tests that are composed of de-identified or anonymized information. Penalties for violations are set forth. Measure failed.

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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