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The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2002-2024 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.

Search

State Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Sort descending Summary
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.

Vermont Other Topics, Privacy Died

Protects consumer privacy by requiring that a business that collects genetic data from a Vermont consumer to provide ancestry or similar information protects the data and keeps it confidential. Carries over to 2022.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires every health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract to provide coverage for genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) under certain circumstances. Died.

Florida Other Topics, Privacy Died

This bill prohibits DNA analysis and disclosure of DNA analysis results without authorization; prohibits the collection or retention of a DNA sample of another person without authorization for specified purposes; prohibits specified DNA analysis and disclosure of DNA analysis results without authorization, etc.

Kentucky 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.

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.

California Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires any contracting entity that contracts with independent contractors to provide services to, on behalf of, or through the contracting entity on a freelance or per-gig basis, or virtual platform that enables third parties, including independent contractors, to transact with one another for services, or through which independent contractors can market, promote, or advertise their services to third parties, to maintain a written policy against the discrimination of an independent contractor on the basis of genetic information and other factors. Summary based on version of bill as amended on 5/6/2020 when all language from prior introduced version of bill was stricken. Died.

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 Privacy Died

Clarifies that certain personal information of municipal employees is confidential and a record or portion of a record containing that information in the possession of a municipal government is not a public record. Personal information includes genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. The bill defines biometric information to include an individual's DNA. In the Senate - First Reading Senate Rules. Died.

Minnesota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes the MinnesotaCare program. A managed care organization that contracts with the Commissioner as part of the program may not discriminate or use any policy that has the effect of discriminating against people on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Nevada Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill requires health insurers to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Measure failed.

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

This bill creates the genetics advisory council. The council, if created, will study and make recommendations on various issues, including unfair discrimination by insurers and employers. Measure failed.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for ovarian and prostate cancers. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Establishes a personal property right to DNA samples. A person may not, without the informed, written consent of the individual or the individual's legal guardian or authorized representative: (1) collect a DNA sample from an individual; (2) perform a genetic test on an individual's DNA sample; or (3) retain an individual's DNA sample, with certain exceptions. Died.

West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage of a comprehensive ultrasound screening if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue 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 nurse. To House Banking and Insurance 02/23/21. Died.

Alabama 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.

Florida Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires individual and group health insurers to provide benefits or coverage for periodic colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests for individuals over 50 and for individuals under 50 who are considered high risk. Definition of high risk includes individuals who, because of the presence of recognized genetic markers, face a higher than normal risk of colorectal cancer. Measure failed.

Indiana Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Amends the state's newborn screening statute. The bill requires consent to release newborn's residual blood specimen for epidemiological survey and research. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain state and local governmental units to secure by encryption personal information of an individual that the unit has collected as computerized data. Personal information includes a genetic print or image. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Amends data security protections to include biometric information, which is defined to include genetic information. 2/13/2020 In senate. Accompanied a study order. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Enacts the Consumer privacy Act. Provides certain rights to consumers such as the right to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected and the right to require a business to delete personal information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA sequences. 02/05 (H) Died In Committee

New Jersey Other Topics Died

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

Oklahoma 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.

Displaying 301 - 325 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. 

  • 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