Genome Statute and Legislation Database
The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2002-2024 U.S. state legislative sessions.
State | Primary Link | Topic(s) | Bill Status | Summary Sort descending |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iowa | 2019 State Bills Iowa 2019 HF 96 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Died | Iowa residents are eligible and entitled to enroll as a member in and receive benefits for health care services covered by the healthy Iowa program. A participating health care provider or participating care coordinator may not refuse to provide health care services to a member on the basis of genetic information. Died. |
Connecticut | State StatuteConnecticut: CGA 46a 60 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is a discriminatory practice for an employer, an employment agency, or for any labor organization to request or require genetic information from an employee, a person seeking employment or a member. These entities may not discharge, expel or otherwise discriminate against any person on the basis of genetic information. |
Ohio | State StatuteOhio: ORC 3901.21, 3901.41 and 3901.501 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unfair and deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance to engage in any underwriting standard or other practice that due solely to any health status-related factor, including genetic information, terminates or fails to renew an existing individual policy, contract, plan of health benefits, or a health benefit plan issued to an employer, for which an individual would otherwise be eligible, or, with respect to a health benefit plan issued to an employer, excludes or causes the exclusion of an individual from coverage under an existing employer-provided policy, contract, or plan of health benefits. Insurers issuing accident and sickness insurance, self-insurers or public employee health benefit plans may not consider information obtained from genetic screening or testing in processing an application or in determining insurability or inquire into the results of genetic screening or testing or use such information to cancel, refuse to issue or renew, or limit benefits. The superintendent of insurance has the authority to investigate violations of this provision. |
Louisiana | State StatuteLouisiana: LRS 22:1964 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unfair method of competition and deceptive act and practice in the business of insurance to discriminate against an insured, enrollee, or beneficiary in the issuance, payment of benefits, withholding of coverage, cancellation or nonrenewal of a policy, contract, plan, or program based upon the results of a genetic test or receipt of genetic information. Actions of an insurer or third parties dealing with an insurer taken in the ordinary course of business in connection with the sale, issuance or administration of a life, disability income, or long-term care insurance policy are exempt from the law. |
Vermont | State StatuteVermont: VSA 8 4724 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unfair method of competition or unfair and deceptive act or practice to (1) make or permit any unfair discrimination against any individual by conditioning insurance rates, the provision or renewal of insurance coverage, or other conditions of insurance based on the results of genetic testing where there is not a relationship between the information and the cost of the insurance risk that the insurer would assume by insuring the proposed insured or (2) to violate the Title 18 � 9334. |
Nevada | State StatuteNevada: NRS 613.345 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer, a labor organization or an employment agency to (1) ask or encourage a prospective or current employee or member of the labor organization to submit to a genetic test, (2) require or administer a genetic test to a person as a condition of employment or membership, or (3) deny, alter the terms, conditions or privileges of, or terminate employment or membership based on genetic information. |
Texas | State StatuteTexas: TS (Labor) Code 21.401-405 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unlawful employment practice if an employer, labor organization, or employment agency discriminates against an individual on the basis of genetic information or refusal to submit to a genetic test. An employer, labor organization, or employment agency commits an unlawful employment practice if these entities limit, segregate, or classify an employee, member, or applicant in a way that would deprive or tend to deprive the employee, member, or applicant of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of his or her status on the basis of genetic information or the refusal to submit to a genetic test. |
New Jersey | State StatuteNew Jersey: NJS 10:5-5 and 10:5-12(a) | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | It is an unlawful employment practice to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge or require to retire from employment such individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment based on genetic information or because of the refusal to submit to a genetic test. |
Nevada | State StatuteNevada: NRS 629.101 et seq. | Privacy, Research | Statute | It is unlawful to obtain any genetic information of a person without informed consent with some exceptions, including for use in a study where the identities of the persons from whom the genetic information is obtained are not disclosed to the person conducting the study. It is unlawful to retain genetic information that identifies a person without first obtaining the informed consent with some exceptions. Except as otherwise provided, a person who obtains the genetic information for use in a study must destroy that information upon completion of the study or withdrawal of the person from the study. Criminal penalties and a right to civil action are established for violations. |
California | 2019 State Bills California 2019 SB 731 | Privacy | Died | Language in introduced version, which pertained to genetic characteristics and workers compensation, was stricken. Amended version of bill states that peace officer and custodial officer personnel records maintained by a state or local agency are not confidential and are available for public inspection. Records available for inspection include those relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in conduct such as verbal statements, writings, online posts, recordings, and gestures, involving prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of various factors, including genetic information. Died. |
Arizona | State StatuteArizona: ARS 20-448 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | Life and disability insurers (disability insurance is defined in the statutes to include health insurers) may not refuse to consider an application on the basis of a genetic condition. Information about a genetic condition may not be used for underwriting or ratemaking of life and disability insurance policies unless supported by the applicants medical condition, medical history and either claims experience or actuarial projections. In the case of disability insurance the use of information about a genetic condition for underwriting or ratemaking purposes constitutes unfair discrimination in the absence of a diagnosis. |
Texas | 2017 State Bills Texas 2017 HB 3491 | Privacy | Died | Limits the use of biometric identifiers by governmental bodies. Biometric identifiers are defined to include a DNA sample. Died. |
Texas | 2017 State Bills Texas 2017 SB 281 | Privacy | Died | Limits the use of biometric identifiers by governmental bodies. Biometric identifiers are defined to include a DNA sample. Died. |
Maryland | State StatuteMaryland: Md. Insurance Code 18-120 | Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | Long-term care insurers may not request or require a genetic test to deny or limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available; charge a different rate for the same coverage; or use a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information or a request for genetic services to deny or limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available or charge a different rate for the same insurance except that the results of a genetic test may be used for these purposes based on sound actuarial principles. |
New Jersey | 2017 State Bills New Jersey 2017 A2073 | Privacy | Died | Makes confidential any part of a 9-1-1 audio recording or transcript that discloses a person's health status, medical conditions, health care services or treatments, medical history, genetic information, or current health insurance plan information by excluding it from the definition of a government record. Died. |
New Jersey | 2017 State Bills New Jersey 2017 S3606 | Privacy | Died | Makes confidential any part of a 9-1-1 audio recording or transcript that discloses a person's health status, medical conditions, health care services or treatments, medical history, genetic information, or current health insurance plan information by excluding it from the definition of a government record. Died. |
New Jersey | 2020 State Bills New Jersey 2020 A1170 | Privacy | Died | Makes DNA samples and genetic information resulting from DNA analysis property of the person sampled or analyzed. Died. |
Mississippi | 2014 State Bills Mississippi 2014 HB 172 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Died | Makes it unlawful for any employer or insurer to use the results of DNA testing against a patient or against the patient's consanguineous family members for any discriminatory purpose. Any employer who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be fined up to $5,000.00 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Died in Committee on February 4, 2014. |
Washington | State StatuteWashington: RCW 48.43.012 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | Makes state law consistent with selected federal consumer protections in the patient protection and affordable care act. Prohibits a health carrier or health plan from establishing rules for eligibility based on health-status related factors such as genetic information. |
Kentucky | 2017 State Bills Kentucky 2017 HB 483 | 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. |
Washington | 2019 State Bills Washington 2019 HB 1870 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Enacted | Making state law consistent with selected federal consumer protections in the patient protection and affordable care act. Prohibits a health carrier or health plan from establishing rules for eligibility based on health-status related factors such as genetic information. April 17, 2019 Signed by the Governor. Effective immediately. |
Washington | 2019 State Bills Washington 2019 SB 5805 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination | Died | Making state law consistent with selected federal consumer protections in the patient protection and affordable care act. Prohibits a health carrier or health plan from establishing rules for eligibility based on health-status related factors such as genetic information. Died. |
Massachusetts | 2018 State Bills Massachusetts 2018 H.4639 | Health Insurance Coverage | Died | Measure to enhance high quality, affordable health care. The bill includes a provision requiring coverage for genetically targeted drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, if offered to active or retired employees of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission. Died. |
Minnesota | 2013 State Bills Minnesota 2013 SF 1234/HF 1359 | Other Topics | Enacted | Medical data collected, stored, used, or disseminated by or filed with the commissioner in connection with a claim for workers' compensation benefits does not constitute genetic information for the purposes of section 13.386 of the statutes. Signed by the Governor on May 18, 2013. |
Minnesota | State StatuteMinnesota: MS 176.138 | Other Topics, Privacy | Statute | Medical data collected, stored, used, or disseminated by or filed with the commissioner in connection with a claim for workers' compensation benefits does not constitute genetic information for the purposes of �13.386 of the statutes pertaining to genetic privacy. |
Hawaii | 2020 State Bills Hawaii 2020 HB 2572 | Privacy | Died | Modernizes "personal information" for the purposes of security breach of personal information law. Personal information is defined to include a deoxyribonucleic acid profile. Died. |
Minnesota | 2019 State Bills Minnesota 2019 HF 112 | 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. |
Washington | State StatuteWashington: RCW 40.26.010 et seq. | Privacy | Statute | Modifies the state privacy law pertaining to biometric information by adding DNA to the definition of biometric identifiers. Provides an exception for law enforcement agencies. |
Washington | 2017 State Bills Washington 2017 HB 2213 | Privacy | Enacted | Modifies the state privacy law pertaining to biometric information by adding DNA to the definition of biometric identifiers. Provides an exception for law enforcement agencies. 6/27/2017 Signed by the Governor. Effective 7/23/2017. |
California | California SB 625 | Neonatal sequencing | Pending | Newborn screening: genetic diseases: blood samples collected. |
New Hampshire | State StatuteNew Hampshire: NHS 141-H:1, 141-H:3, and 141:H-6 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | No employer, labor organization, employment agency, or licensing agency may (1) solicit, require or administer genetic testing, or (2) affect the terms, conditions, or privileges of, or terminate employment, membership, or licensure based on genetic testing. A person may not sell or provide to these entities any genetic testing relating to an existing or prospective employee, member or licensee unless for the purpose of workers compensation or biomonitoring of workplace toxins and with informed consent. The statutes establish a right to civil action by aggrieved individuals. |
New Hampshire | State StatuteNew Hampshire: NHS 141-H:1, 141-H:2, and 141:H-6 | Privacy | Statute | No individual or his/her family member may be required to undergo genetic testing as a condition of doing business with another person. Genetic testing may not be performed on any individual or anywhere on any resident of the state based on bodily materials obtained within the state without prior written and informed consent with some exceptions. Additional provisions address disclosure of results. The statutes establish a right to civil action by aggrieved individuals. |
Arkansas | State StatuteArkansas: Ark. Code 20-35-101 et seq. | Privacy, Research | Statute | No individual records of subjects in genetic research studies approved by an institutional review board or conducted subject to the requirements of the federal common rule may be subpoenaed or subject to discovery in civil suits except in cases where the information in the records is the basis of the suit. These records may not be disclosed to an insurer or employer without the informed written consent of the subject. Stored tissues, including blood, that arise from surgery or other diagnostic and therapeutic steps may be disclosed for genetic or other research studies if the patients name or social security number is not attached to or included with the specimen. Identifying information may be disclosed with the informed written consent of the individual. Published results may not identify a subject unless the individual has provided specific informed consent. |
North Carolina | State StatuteNorth Carolina: NCGA 58-58-25 | Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | No insurance company may refuse to issue or deliver any policy of life insurance solely by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses sickle cell trait or hemoglobin C trait. A policy also may not carry a higher premium rate or charge by reason of the fact that the person to be insured possesses these traits. |
New York | State StatuteNew York: NYCL (ISC) 2615 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | No insurer may request or require an individual proposed for insurance coverage to submit to a genetic test without prior written informed consent. Further disclosures require additional consent. If an adverse underwriting decision is based on the results of a genetic test, the insurer must notify the individual. No insurer who lawfully possesses information derived from a genetic test on a biological sample may incorporate the information into the record of a non-consenting individual. Penalties for violations are set forth. |
Hawaii | State StatuteHawaii: HRS 431:10A-118, 431:10A-404.5, 432:1-607, 432:2-404.5, an… | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy | Statute | No insurer providing accident and health or sickness insurance coverage or extended health_insurance_coverage, mutual benefit society, fraternal benefit society, or health maintenance organization may use an individual's or a family member's genetic information or a request for genetic services to (1) deny or limit any coverage or (2) establish eligibility, continuation, enrollment, or premium payment. These entities may not request or require collection or disclosure of genetic information of an individual or family member or disclose genetic information without written consent. |
Maine | 2017 State Bills Maine 2017 LD 1340 | Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Topics, Privacy | Died | No member, officer, employee or agent of a municipal housing authority may knowingly divulge or disclose personnel information declared confidential with some specified exceptions. Personal information, including genetic information, is considered confidential. Died. |
New Jersey | State StatuteNew Jersey: NJS 17B:30-12 | Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination | Statute | No person may discriminate against an individual based on genetic information or the refusal of a genetic test with respect to hospital confinement or other supplemental limited benefit insurance. No person may make or permit any unfair discrimination against an individual in the application of the results of a genetic test or genetic information with respect to life insurance, including credit life insurance, an annuity, disability income insurance contract or credit accident insurance coverage, and, if results of a genetic test as permitted by these entities, the insurer must notify the individual who is the subject of the test that it is required and obtain the individual's prior written informed consent. The insurance commissioner has the authority to enforce these provisions. |
Florida | State StatuteFlorida: FS 448.075 et seq. | Employment Nondiscrimination | Statute | No person, firm, corporation, unincorporated association, state agency, unit of local government, or any public or private entity shall deny or refuse employment to any person or discharge any person from employment solely because such person has the sickle-cell trait. These entities also may not require screening or testing for the sickle-cell trait as a condition for employment. |
New Hampshire | State StatuteNew Hampshire: NHS 132:10-a V. | Privacy | Statute | No whole-genome DNA sequencing may be performed for the purpose of newborn screening unless the general court authorizes such sequencing by statute. |
New Hampshire | 2014 State Bills New Hampshire 2014 HB 1484 | Privacy | Enacted | No whole-genome DNA sequencing shall be performed pursuant to this chapter unless the general court authorizes such sequencing by statute. Signed by the Governor on 5/27/2014; Chapter 0063; Effective 1/01/2015. |
Oklahoma | State StatuteOklahoma: OS 21-1175 | Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens | Statute | Parental consent is required to store, transfer, use or database DNA from any newborn child. |
Arizona | State StatuteArizona: ARS 1-602 | Privacy | Statute | Parents must consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid is created, stored or shared, with some exceptions such as newborn screening. |
Maryland | 2014 State Bills Maryland 2014 HB 851 | Other Topics, Privacy | Died | Permits a health insurance carrier to make available upon request an upgrade to a biometric health care identification card that can securely validate one's identity and access his or her medical history. Biometric identification is defined to include DNA. Died. |
Kentucky | 2020 State Bills Kentucky 2020 HB 496 | Other Topics | Died | Permits a patient to request and receive results of his or her genetic or genetic-related tests. Requires results of genetic or genetic-related tests to be reported and transmitted to a patient who requested the test. Permits a medical laboratory to collect a specimen from a patient for a genetic or genetic-related test requested by the patient. Died. |
Wisconsin | 2013 State Bills Wisconsin 2013 AB 269 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Died | Permits the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) or a person who has been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty or genetic testing to bring an action in circuit court to recover compensatory and punitive damages caused by the act of discrimination or unfair honesty or genetic testing after the completion of all administrative proceedings before DWD and the Labor and Industry Review Commission concerning the violation. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. |
Wisconsin | 2013 State Bills Wisconsin 2013 SB 143 | Employment Nondiscrimination | Died | Permits the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) or a person who has been discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty or genetic testing to bring an action in circuit court to recover compensatory and punitive damages caused by the act of discrimination or unfair honesty or genetic testing after the completion of all administrative proceedings before DWD and the Labor and Industry Review Commission concerning the violation. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. |
Maine | State StatuteMaine: 5 MRSA 7070 | Privacy | Statute | Personal information, including genetic information, pertaining to state employees is confidential and not open to public inspection. An employee may examine records containing personal information when permitted or required by law. |
Texas | State StatuteTexas TS (Civil Practice and Remedies) Code 74.052 | 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 | 2017 State Bills Texas 2017 HB 2891 | Privacy | Enacted | 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. 6/9/2017 Signed by the Governor. |
Last updated: September 14, 2023