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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.

Overview

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.

State Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Sort descending Summary
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 Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits licensing boards from requiring an examination or establishing any qualification for licensing that has an adverse impact on any class because of various attributes, including genetic information. Died.

Georgia Privacy, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

Prohibits the collection of student or family information by any state agency, local school system or educational institution, including biometric data (defined to include DNA sequence and newborn screening information), except as may be necessary to facilitate the instruction of special needs students or students participating in school physical education and athletic programs. Died.

Louisiana Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Applies provisions that prohibit the use of genetic testing for health insurance and underwriting purposes to life and long-term care insurance policies. Applies prohibitions for unfair or deceptive acts or practices on the basis of genetic information to life and long-term care insurance policies. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Amends the definition of biometric information under the Maryland Data privacy act. The definition of biometric information referring to a genetic print is stricken. The revised definition of biometric information includes physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including an individual's DNA, that can be used singly, in combination with each other, or with other identifying data to establish individual identity. 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).

California Other Topics Died

require the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to adopt rules relating to inappropriate conduct, as defined, by board members, officers, and employees. Inappropriate conduct is defined as any conduct toward others that is physical, verbal, or visual based on or because of various characteristics, including genetic information. Carries over to 2022.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for: (1) screening to determine whether counseling and testing related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation is indicated; and (2) genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

Maryland Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill provides an individual with a right to civil if the state genetic nondiscrimination insurance statutes are violated. Measure failed.

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.

Arizona Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires hospital or medical service corporations, health care service organizations, and individual, group and blanket disability insurers who provide health care coverage to pregnant women to cover the cost of genetic testing for thrombophilia if it is ordered by a physician. Measure failed.

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.

Iowa Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Establishes the Healthy Iowa program. Residents of the state are entitled to enroll. Discrimination is prohibited with respect to members and providers based on 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. 3/28/2019 Unfavorable Report by Health and Government Operations. Withdrawn.

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.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires individual and group health insurers to provide coverage for breast cancer chemoprevention counseling, risk assessment, genetic testing and counseling for any woman who is at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a health care provider. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

This bill was introduced as an amendment to the Genetic Information privacy Act. All language was stricken in a senate amendment and new language was added related to firearms.

Maryland Privacy Died

Sets forth requirements for governmental units, including an executive, legislative or judicial agency, a department, a board, a commission, an authority, a public institution of higher education, or a unit or instrument of the state that collects or discloses personal information. Defines personal information to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits local or state administrative, legislative or regulatory body or instrumentality to from engaging in a discriminatory land use practice, including practices based on genetic information. Accompanied a study order, see H5081. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Enacts the Parents Matter Act. Parental rights include the 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 (S) Died In Committee.

New Jersey Other Topics Died

Establishes New Jersey Pharmacogenomics Commission. 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.

California Other Topics Died

This bill prohibits the denial of a workers' compensation claim solely because the motivation behind what caused the employee's injury or injury resulting in death was related to an immutable characteristic of the employee. The bill also states that physicians assigning apportionment to the causes of permanent disability by finding what approximate percentage of the disability is a direct result of the employment-related injury versus other factors may not consider genetic predisposition a cause or other factor of disability. Measure failed.

Florida Other Topics, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurers, long-term care insurers, and disability income insurers from certain actions relating to genetic information or genetic testing of applicants. Prohibits these insurers from taking certain actions relating to coverage or rates unless certain conditions are met. Requires entities providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing to obtain prior written authorization to disclose identifying health information to life or health insurers. Died.

Kentucky Privacy Died

Creates a parent's right to consent in writing before any record of the minor child�s blood or deoxyribonucleic acid is created, stored, or shared, unless authorized pursuant to a court order or an ongoing criminal investigation. Died.

Maryland Other Topics Died

A hospital or related institution may not discriminate in admitting or providing personal care based on genetic information. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Amends statute requiring a business that maintains personal information of an individual residing in the State to implement and maintain certain security procedures and practices. The bill adds the following to the definition of personal information: genetic information with respect to an individual, including the genetic sample of an individual; the genetic test of an individual; the genetic test of an individual's family member; the manifestation of a disease or disorder in a family member of an individual; any request for and receipt of genetic counseling, or genetic education; and any information derived from genetic information with respect to an individual. In the Senate - First Reading Finance. Died.

Minnesota Other Topics Died

This bill requires any person who provides a specimen collection kit to a resident of Minnesota for the purpose of collecting genetic material to perform a genetic test to first provide the resident with the disclosure, as described in the legislation. The bill also requires a study to determine which companies and laboratories are providing direct-to-consumer genetic tests to Minnesota residents. Measure failed.

Montana Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Health insurance issuers offering individual health_insurance_coverage may not establish rules for eligibility, including continued eligibility, of any individual based on a health status-related factor, including genetic information, of the individual or a dependent of the individual. Died.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits group or blanket policies that cover 51 or more employees for hospital, medical, major medical, or similar type comprehensive coverage from excluding members or dependents or establishing rates based on predisposing genetic characteristics. The bill also prohibits health insurers from requiring or using tests for or information about predisposing genetic characteristics for underwriting. The same restrictions are imposed upon hospital service corporations, health services corporation and medical expense indemnity corporations covering 51 or more employees. Measure failed.

New York Privacy Died

Establishes the "It's Your Data Act" for the purposes of providing protections and transparency in the collection, use, retention, and sharing of personal information. Personal information includes biometric information such as DNA. Died.

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.

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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. 

Last updated: February 8, 2024