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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 Jersey Other Topics Died

Requires testing of infants for genetic mutations associated with the development of hereditary hemochromatosis. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires health insurance policies to cover comprehensive genetic screening for breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and lung cancers. Died.

Oklahoma Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires individual and group health insurers that provide coverage on an expense-incurred basis to provide reimbursement not to exceed $115 for mammography screening any female under 35 with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Measure failed.

Vermont Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Topics, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based on an individual�s genetic information in relation to employment, labor relations, insurance coverage, and the provision of social and medical services. In some areas such as employment and insurance existing genetic nondiscrimination law are amended. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Prohibits a public agency or public official from: (1) acquiring, possessing, accessing, using, or assisting with the use of or provide resources for the development or use of any biometric surveillance system, or (2) entering into a contract with or making a request to any third party for the purpose of acquiring, possessing, accessing or using information derived from a biometric surveillance system, unless expressly authorized by law. Biometric data is defined to include deoxyribonucleic acid. Died.

Missouri Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill, as substituted by the Senate, prohibits the treatment of genetic information as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis and prevents the establishment of rules for eligibility or continued eligibility on the basis of a health status-related factor, including genetic information, in health insurance. Measure failed.

New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires a hospital service corporation that provides hospital or medical expense benefits to provide coverage for screening to determine whether genetic counseling related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations is indicated; genetic counseling; and if indicated, BRCA testing. Died.

New York Other Topics Died

Authorizes the department of health to establish a program for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's and Tay-Sachs disease screening and counseling. Participation in the program is voluntary, and all information is confidential. Died.

Oregon Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

This bill amends the state genetic privacy law by changing retention and disclosure provisions that apply to health insurers. Measure failed.

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.

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.

Displaying 101 - 125 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