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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
New Hampshire Genetic data storage/privacy/sharing (medicine) Approved

Relative to conditions for genetic testing.

Texas Genetic data storage/privacy/sharing (industry) Approved

Relating to an individual's genetic data, including the use of that data by certain genetic testing companies for commercial purposes and the individual's property right in DNA; authorizing a civil p...

Pennsylvania Coverage and reimbursement Approved

An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for coverage for mammographic examinations and diagnost...

Montana Neonatal sequencing Approved

Revise laws related to collection of genetic material for newborn screenings.

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.

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...

California Other Topics Died

Establishes the Commission on the State of Hate. Requires the commission to advise the Legislature, the Governor, and state agencies on, among other things, policy recommendations to promote intersocial education designed to foster mutual respect and understanding among California�s diverse population. Appointees to the commission are comprised of experts in combating hate, intolerance, and discrimination on the basis of various factors such as genetic information. Died.

Hawaii Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

The board of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund must require every health benefits plan established or contracted to include lower deductibles and co-payments for non-smokers of tobacco and other persons engaged in low risk health behaviors that are designed, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, to encourage preventative health care, promote wellness, and discourage medically unnecessary use of health care services; provided that the board consults with medical professionals to determine what should be included as low risk health behaviors. Genetic factors and pre-existing medical conditions may not be considered as a behavior when determining what constitutes low risk behavior. Died.

Maine Privacy Died

The department of education, a school administrative unit or a state agency may not collect, store, transmit or process the certain information, including DNA, from a student without the written consent of a parent or guardian of a student or an eligible student unless otherwise required or authorized by statute or rule. Died.

Maryland Other Topics Died

Alters the definition of "practice pharmacy" to include the ordering and administering of certain laboratory tests. Requires the State Board of Pharmacy, on or before January 1, 2022, to adopt regulations authorizing a pharmacist to order and administer laboratory tests, without a written, oral or electronically transmitted prescription from an authorized prescriber that measure biomarkers, including deoxyribonucleic acid. In the Senate - Hearing 3/02 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

Minnesota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

A managed care organization that contracts with the health commissioner cannot discriminate or use any policy that has the effect of discriminating against people on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Nevada Research Died

This bill prescribes the requirements for surrogate decision makers to give informed consent for certain human subject research. 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 employers and insurers. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits hiring parties from subjecting a model to harassment based on various factors, including predisposing genetic characteristics. Died.

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.

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.

Alabama Privacy Died

Prohibits state agencies, local education agencies, or local education institutions from administering any student survey, assessment, analysis, evaluation, or similar instrument that solicits certain information about the student or the family of the student, including biometric records. Biometric records are defined to include a DNA sequence. Died.

Delaware Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based upon genetic characteristics and information in the issuance or renewal of disability and long term care insurance. Insurers also must provide notice if a genetic test is required. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

Amends the Genetic Information privacy Act. Requires informed consent for a person or business to disclose an individual's genetic information to third parties specifically for marketing, advertising, or sales purposes. Died.

Maryland Other Topics Died

Removes the ban on directly or indirectly advertising for or soliciting business for any medical laboratory, regardless of location, from anyone except a physician, hospital, medical laboratory, clinic, clinical installation, or other medical care facility. 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.

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.

Displaying 1 - 25 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