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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
Connecticut Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends the state genetic nondiscrimination law for employment by creating an exemption for state or local law enforcement, the department of public safety and the division of scientific services that allows those entities to request or require employees to provide genetic information for the purpose of detecting contamination of samples examined by the division of scientific services. Measure failed.

Idaho Other Topics Died

If a firefighter is diagnosed with breast cancer within 5 years of employment if diagnosed before the age of 40 and if the cancer was not revealed during an initial employment medical screening examination or during any subsequent medical review, the disease shall be rebuttably presumed to be proximately caused by the firefighter's employment as a firefighter, regardless of whether or not the firefighter has a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Died.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends provisions of law that relate to the use of genetic tests and genetic information by an insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization. The bill also amends provisions related to the use of genetic information in disability insurance, longterm care insurance, or life insurance. Measure failed.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires insurance coverage for mammograms and breast cancer screening if the patient has additional risk factors for breast cancer such as family history and positive genetic testing. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Creates the parental authority act. Parental rights include the he right to be notified in advance and to refuse or to consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored or shared, with some exceptions. 2/23/2016 (H) Died In Committee.

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.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

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 various factors, including genetic information. 2/27/2020 Accompanied study order. Died.

Missouri Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill authorizes designated administrators to take action if it is determined that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act of discrimination prohibited under the state genetic nondiscrimination laws that applies to employers. Measure failed.

New Jersey Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Creates the State Anti-Harassment and Workplace Discrimination Act. Declares that it is an unlawful employment practice and unlawful discrimination, for any person, whether an employee or applicant for employment, or intern or volunteer, in any State agency or Gubernatorial Transition Office, or person doing business with the State to discriminate against or harass an employee or applicant for employment, or intern or volunteer, based upon certain protected categories, genetic information. Died.

New York Other Topics Died

A Transportation Network Company (TNC) may not discriminate against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of a genetic predisposition. Died.

Oregon Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates new provisions related to statewide coverage of health care. Renumbers sections of existing that which define pre-existing conditions, which does not include genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis of a condition related to the information. Died.

Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination in apprenticeships based on various factors, including genetic information. Died.

California Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates the Healthy California Board, which is responsible for the establishment of the Healthy California program to provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage and a health care cost control system for the benefit of all residents of the state. Consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Board must promote nondiscrimination with respect to members and health care providers on the basis of genetic information and other characteristics. Died.

Georgia Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Died

This bill creates guidelines such as consent requirements for the creation and storage of biometric information, which is defined to include DNA samples. The bill also prohibits life insurers from requiring genetic information to determine an applicants eligibility or rates to be charged for life insurance; however, any pre-existing genetic information must be supplied to the insurance company upon application. The bill forbids employers or employment agencies from using information derived from genetic testing for identification purposes or as a condition of employment. The bill provides remedies for individuals whose genetic information is inappropriately used. Measure failed.

Louisiana Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Retains present law and extends the definition of "discriminatory practice in connection with employment" to include all of the discrimination statutes in present law, which would add veterans, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sickle cell trait, and genetic information. Died.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes the Healthy Maryland Program. Requires the Board to establish requirements and standards to consistent with state nondiscrimination laws, including those pertaining to genetic information. Participating providers may not refuse to provide health care services on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Specifies when authorization to disclose health care information is required. Health care is defined to include genetic information. As of June 6, 2014, accompanied by a study order (see H4147).

Minnesota Privacy Died

Businesses must conduct risk assessments of processing activities that involve sensitive consumer data, including genetic data. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

This bill restricts the collection, storage, and sharing of student assessment data by the United States Department of Education and the New Hampshire department of education. Student assessment data includes biometric information, which is defined to include DNA. As of October 30, 2014, Interim Study Report: Not Recommended for Legislation in 2014 (Vote 15-0).

New York Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

This bill prohibits the retention of DNA, blood spots or other genetic information with an infant's identifying information for any period of time or for any purpose other than newborn screening without parental consent. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

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

Wisconsin Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill allows a person discriminated against or the department of workforce development under the state fair employment practices law to bring an action in circuit court. Measure failed.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage, without any out-of-pocket expense, for: (1) diagnostic and screening mammograms, breast ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging of breasts for all insureds; (2) breast biopsies for all insureds, and (3) prophylactic mastectomies and breast reconstruction surgery for all insureds who have the harmful variant of breast cancer gene one (BRCA1), breast cancer gene two (BRCA2) or any similar gene variant that materially increases breast cancer risk. 1/27/2021 Referred to Joint Committee on Insurance and Real Estate.

Illinois Privacy Died

Amends the Genetic Information privacy Act provisions concerning uses and disclosures. Provides that various uses or disclosures of a patient's genetic information may not (rather than may) occur without the patient's consent. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Allows the Motor Vehicle Administration to offer enhanced identification. An individual who applies for enhanced identification may be asked to provide biometric identification, which is defined to include DNA. Died.

Iowa Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy, Research Died

This bill prohibits health insurers from discriminating based on genetic information or tests. Authorization is required to obtain genetic information or samples. Consent requirements are established to collect, retain, transmit or use genetic information. Exceptions under consent requirements include medical or scientific research and eduction and for use in medical repositories and registries if it does not contain personally identifiable information. Health insurers may not release genetic information without prior written authorization. Exceptions for release requirements include (1) if an individual is participating in research settings, including those governed by the federal policy for the protection of human subjects, and (2) tests conducted purely for research. Measure failed.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishing Healthy Maryland as a public corporation and a unit of State government to provide comprehensive universal health coverage for every Maryland resident. The Health Maryland Board must develop rules to promote nondiscrimination with respect to genetic information among members and providers. Died.

Michigan Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires employers of 50 or more individuals to post a notice that wage discrimination based on genetic information is prohibited under federal law. Died.

Missouri Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits a health carrier offering group health_insurance_coverage in connection with a group health plan from adjusting premium or contribution amounts for the group covered under such plan on the basis of genetic information. Such health carriers may request, but shall not require, that a participant or beneficiary undergo a genetic test if certain conditions are met. Died.

New Mexico Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill removes language in several sections of the statutes related to health insurance, which state that genetic information is not a health status factor. Measure failed.

New York Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Creates a company climate report system to assess the workplace environment of companies doing business in New York. Requires companies to submit biennial climate reports based on an anonymous survey of employees to assess the workplace environment including, but not limited to, pay equity, sexual harassment and discrimination based on various factors, an individual's predisposing genetic characteristics. Died.

South Dakota Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

As introduced, this bill included a provision that prohibited pre-existing condition exclusions based on genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis. Measure failed.

Washington Privacy Died

Protects sensitive data of consumers, including genetic data. 1/13/2020 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. Died.

California Privacy Died

Requires a genealogy company, defined as a person that is not subject to HIPAA and obtains the DNA of a person through submission of a saliva sample or other methods, to display a notice in all advertising, it�s privacy policies, at the point of sale of the product, and on product packaging. The notice must contain information about the company's privacy policy. Died.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

Maine Privacy Died

Establishes consumer rights with respect to personal information collected by a business. Personal information includes biometric information. Biometric information is defined to include deoxyribonucleic acid. Died Between Houses, Jun 2, 2021.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage, Other Topics Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage for certain genetically targeted drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Died.

Mississippi Health Insurance Nondiscrimination 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 private entities from requiring an individual to disclose or provide biometric data, including DNA, as a condition of doing business with, engaging in any business activity or relationship with, or obtaining services from that private entity, unless the good, service, or activity provided by the private entity cannot be provided without the collection of biometric information from an individual. A private entity may not collect, use, or retain the biometric information of an individual without the individual's consent and shall not condition access to its good, service, or activity on the provision of biometric data. Died.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Every policy that provides medical coverage, including coverage for physician services in a physician's office, and every policy that provides major medical or similar comprehensive coverage must cover the cost of genetic testing and any subsequent treatment resulting from the results of the genetic test for people who are, in the opinion of a physician, at significant risk of contracting cancer. Died.

North Carolina Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits an association health plan or sponsoring association from conditioning eligibility for coverage, including continuing eligibility for coverage, on health-status factors such as genetic information. Died.

Utah Privacy Died

Requires government agencies to provide an annual report to the state auditor detailing the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifying information, including DNA. Died.

Wisconsin Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

In selecting patients with whom to enter into a direct primary care agreement, a health care provider may not discriminate on the basis of genetic information. 4/1/2020 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

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 Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends Florida's health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. The bill removes the exemption for life, disability and long-term care insurance under existing law and states that the law applies to other lines of insurance. Died.

New York Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Requires parental consent for newborn DNA storage. The bill states that no test, DNA, blood spot, or other genetic information may be retained with an infant's identifying information other than for the purpose of newborn screening without parental consent. Died.

Oklahoma Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Research Died

A health carrier offering health benefit plans providing individual market health_insurance_coverage may not (1) impose a pre-existing condition exclusion on the basis of genetic information, (2) establish rules for the eligibility, including continued eligibility, of any individual to enroll for coverage based on genetic information, (3) adjust premium or contribution amounts for an individual on the basis of genetic information concerning the individual or a family member of the individual, (4) request or require an individual or a family member of an individual to undergo a genetic test, or (5) request or require or purchase genetic information for underwriting purposes or to determine eligibility. A health carrier may request, but not require, that an individual or a family member of the individual undergo a genetic test if the request is made pursuant to research that complies with Part 46 of Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations or equivalent federal regulations and any applicable state or local law or regulations for the protection of human subjects in research and other criteria are met. Died.

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.

Arkansas Privacy Died

Enacts the Parents' Bill of Rights. A parent must consent in writing before a biometric scan of a minor child or a record of a minor child's blood or DNA is created, shared, or stored. April 2, 2015 Recommended for study in the Interim by Joint Interim Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE

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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. 

  • 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