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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 Sort descending Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Summary
Tennessee Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Under the Health Insurance Portability, Availability and Renewal Act group health plans and other issuing group health_insurance_coverage may not base rules for eligibility or continued eligibility on a health status-related factor, including genetic information.

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.

Tennessee Other Topics Pending

Establishes rights of perinatal care patients, including the right to be free from discriminating based on genetic information. 3/30/2021 Deferred for summer study in Health Subcommittee.

Tennessee Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Prior to amendment, this bill exempt insurance pools created by an association of private, not-for-profit educational institutions that has been in existence for at least 25 years from the provisions governing genetic information nondiscrimination. This language was removed from the final version of the bill, which was signed by the Governor May 15, 2007.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Allows the recipient of an organ transplant and referral hospital to examine all genetic records of the donor or prospective donor unless prohibited by any other law. Died.

Tennessee Other Topics Pending

Establishes rights of perinatal care patients, including the right to be free from discriminating based on genetic information. 3/31/2021 Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Carries over to 2022.

Tennessee Privacy Enacted

Requires a parent, legal guardian, or student, if the student is 18 years of age or older, to provide informed written consent before the collection of individual student biometric data, including DNA. Establishes additional protections for personally identifiable information, which includes biometric data, maintained by schools. Effective 7/1/2018.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Allows the recipient of an organ transplant and referral hospital to examine all genetic records of the donor or prospective donor unless prohibited by any other law. Died.

Tennessee Other Topics Enacted

Extends the sunset date of the genetic advisory committee to June 30, 2025. Signed by the Governor 3/22/2019. Pub. Ch. 43.

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.

Tennessee Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prior to amendment, this bill exempt insurance pools created by an association of private, not-for-profit educational institutions that has been in existence for at least 25 years from the provisions governing genetic information nondiscrimination. This language was removed from the final version of the bill. The companion bill substituted with SB 343 signed by the Governor May 15, 2007.

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.

Tennessee Privacy Died

Requires a parent, legal guardian, or student, if the student is 18 years of age or older, to provide informed written consent before the collection of individual student biometric data, including DNA. Establishes additional protections for personally identifiable information, which includes biometric data, maintained by schools. 4/18/2018 Companion House bill substituted.

Texas Privacy Died

Creates a personal property right in a sample of genetic material and in the genetic information obtained as a result of a genetic test performed on an individual's sample. Died.

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.

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.

Texas Privacy Died

Relates to the capture and use of an individual's biometric identifiers, specimen, or genetic information by a governmental body or peace officer or by a person for commercial purposes. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Prohibits a governmental body from capturing or possessing a biometric identified, defined to include DNA, unless it has specific, explicit statutory or has the written consent of the individual or the individual's legal guardian. Died.

Texas 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.

Texas Privacy Died

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

Texas Privacy Died

Pertains to medical authorization required to release protected health information in a health care liability claim. Allows the patient or patient's personal or legal representative to exclude genetic information from the authorization. Died.

Texas Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Statute

Pertains to medical authorization required to release protected health information in a health care liability claim. Allows the patient or patient's personal or legal representative to exclude genetic information from the authorization.

Texas Privacy Died

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

Texas Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Statute

Reports, records, and information obtained by the health department for newborn screening that do not identify a child or the family of a child will not be released for public health research purposes unless a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the child consents to disclosure. Newborn screening blood spots and associated data are confidential under law and may only be used as specified. If a family consents to disclosure of nonidentifiable reports, records and information for public health research, any subsequent disclosures must be approved by an IRB or privacy board of the health department and the Health Commissioner or his or her designee. research for public health purposes is defined to include purposes that relate to cancer, a birth defect, an infectious disease, a chronic disease, environmental exposure, or newborn screening.

Texas Other Topics Died

Proposes a Constitutional Amendment providing for the recognition of equal rights of all people. States that equality under the law may not be denied or abridged based on numerous factors, including genetic information. Died.

Displaying 1001 - 1025 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