NHGRI logo

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.

Search

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

Amends genetic nondiscrimination in employment statute. Deletes existing provision related to genetic information and adds protected classes or protected categories, which is defined to include predisposing genetic characteristics. Died.

Kentucky Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Amends language pertaining to pre-existing condition exclusions in group health insurance. Prohibits group health benefit plan coverage from adjusting premium or contribution amounts for a group covered under the plan on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Vermont Privacy Died

This bill creates personal property rights to genetic information. The bill also prohibits disclosure of genetic information without informed written consent. Measure failed.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information, including biometric information such as an individual's DNA, to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. Authorizes a consumer to submit a certain request for information to a business that collects the consumer's personal information. Requires a business to comply with a request for information within 45 days after receiving a request. Died.

Wisconsin Privacy Died

Sets forth requirements regarding the deletion of consumer personal data, including genetic data, by controllers. 4/1/2020 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

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 - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

Minnesota Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

The original version of this bill amended the newborn screening law pertaining to storage of blood samples. All language was subsequently deleted pertaining to the newborn screening program.

Montana Other Topics Died

Requires lobbyists to complete harassment prevention training. Harassment is defined to include unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual on the basis of genetic information. 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.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

This bill requires accident and health insurance policies to cover the cost of genetic testing of persons with a family history of cancer when the attending physician determines such person has a significant risk of cancer. Measure failed.

Delaware Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based upon genetic information in the issuance or renewal of disability, long-term care, and life insurance. Died.

New York Privacy Died

Requires biometric identifies and information to be treated in a manner similar to confidential and sensitive information such as a genetic marker or genetic testing information. Died.

Illinois Privacy Died

Creates the Consumer privacy Act. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as deoxyribonucleic acid. Provides consumers rights with regard to the collection and use of personal information businesses. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

This bill gives an individual property rights to his or her DNA sample. A person may not collect a DNA sample, perform a genetic test or retain a DNA sample, with few exceptions such as for law enforcement purposes. Measure failed.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to make available to an applicant for a driver's license, an identification card, or a moped operator's permit the opportunity to upgrade to an enhanced identification document. A person who applies for enhanced identification must provide a biometric identifier, which may include DNA. Died.

West Virginia Privacy Died

Establishes a parental bill of rights. Requirements include parental consent in writing before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared, or stored, unless such blood or DNA is otherwise required by law or court order. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

Establish protections for the privacy of personal information pertaining to consumers, including biometric information such as DNA. 2/13/2020 In Senate. Accompanied a study order see S2534. Died.

Mississippi Privacy Died

Allows parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in public schools to opt-out of sharing their child's personal information with the federal government and other agencies and private contractors. Personal information includes a DNA sequence. 1/31/2017 Died in Committee.

New Jersey Privacy Died

Expands the state law on discrimination by prohibiting any entity that operates a health program or activity from: 1. Excluding participation in, deny the benefits of, or otherwise discriminate under any health program or activity on the basis of an individual�s genetic information or 2. Aiding or perpetuating discrimination against any person by providing significant assistance to any entity or person that discriminates on the basis of genetic information. Died.

California Health Insurance Coverage Died

Prohibits an individual or group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, from requiring prior authorization for genetic biomarker testing for an enrollee or insured with metastatic or advanced stage 3 or 4 cancer. Died.

New York Research Died

This bill regulates the use of human subjects for medical research and experimentation, including subjects with mental disorders and children. Provisions include that no greater than minimal risk non-therapeutic human research may be conducted on a child without consent of a parent or guardian. Died.

Hawaii Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill requires health benefit plans to include lower deductibles and co-payments for non-tobacco smokers and others at low risk. Genetic factors and pre-existing conditions may not be considered a behavior. Measure failed.

Oklahoma Other Topics Died

Requires certain residents of long-term care facilities to have a pharmacogenomics profile conducted. The profile must include the results of at least eighteen genes tested and be accompanied by treatment guidance for each disease state-tested. Died.

Maine 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.

Virginia Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits the treatment of genetic information as a preexisting condition in basic health insurance plans in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information. Measure failed.

New Jersey Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses to notify data subjects of collection of personally identifiable information and establishes certain security standards. Personally identifiable information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Colorado Health Insurance Coverage Died

Amends existing coverage requirements for breast cancer screening with mammography for individuals with a genetic predispoition to breast cancer. Requires all sickness and accident insurance policies to provide coverage for breast imaging for all individuals possessing at least one risk factor for breast cancer, including a family history of breast cancer, being 40 years of age or older, or a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Died.

New York Privacy Died

A Transportation Network Company (TNC) may not discriminate against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of a genetic predisposition. TNC drivers must comply with the anti-discrimination law. Died.

Hawaii Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires individual policies of accident and health or sickness insurance to provide coverage for genetic counseling and testing related to the BRCAl or BRCA2 genetic mutation, if indicated. Died.

Rhode Island Privacy Died

Creates the Consumer privacy Protection Act. Establishes requirements for the collection, use, sale, retention and disclosure of personal information by businesses. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. Died.

Maryland Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits an insurer from requesting or requiring a genetic test or from using a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit life insurance coverage or benefits or to charge a different rate for the same coverage or benefits under an annuity contract; defining terms; and providing for an exception if the use is based on sound actuarial principles. Measure failed.

Washington Privacy Died

Establishes protections for student biometric information, including a DNA sequence. Died.

Massachusetts Privacy Died

The bill amends statute sections pertaining to the department of consumer affairs and business regulations relative to any person that owns or licenses personal information about a resident of the commonwealth. Changes add biometric information, including genetic information, to the types of personal information protected under the law. Died.

Minnesota Privacy Died

Establishes the parent's bill of rights. Requirements set forth in the bill include parental written consent before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared or stored unless required by law or court order. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Prohibits the collection, tracking, housing, storage, reporting or sharing of personally identifiable information with the federal government or for-profit corporations. The findings and purpose section of the bill lists a DNA sequence as private student data. Died on the Table.

Arizona Privacy Died

Prohibits schools and school service providers from collecting or possessing biometric information of elementary or secondary school students unless the school service provider: (1) develops a written policy for the collection, retention, disclosure and destruction of biometric information; and (2) obtains a written release to collect biometric information. Sets forth protections for biometric information, if collected. Biometric information is defined as information derived from any biometric identifier used to identify an individual. Died.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill defines the term "genetic predisposition" for purposes of individual and small group health insurance policies, requires that genetic predisposition be disregarded in community rating, and provides that no pre-existing condition exclusion in such a policy shall exclude coverage on the basis of any genetic predisposition. Measure failed.

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurers and long-term care insurers, except under certain circumstances, from canceling, limiting, or denying coverage, or establishing differentials in premium rates, based on genetic information. 3/10/2018 Died in Banking and Insurance.

New York Privacy Died

Establishes the It's Your Data Act to provide protections and transparency in the collection use retention and sharing of personal information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as a DNA sequence. Referred to Rules 10/28/2020. Died.

Iowa Privacy Died

This bill modifies a provision related to personal information in the event of a security breach of computerized data. The definition of personal information is amended to include a deoxyribonucleic acid profile. Died.

Texas Privacy Died

Establishes protections for the privacy of a consumer's personal information collected by certain businesses, including biometric information. Biometric information includes DNA. Died.

Maryland Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Requires managers and supervisors in the Legislative and Executive branches of State government to immediately report certain incidents of workplace bullying, including bullying based on genetic information. 3/5/2019 Unfavorable Report by House Rules and Executive Nominations; Withdrawn.

Wisconsin Employment Nondiscrimination Died

Authorizes the circuit court to order a person who engages in discrimination in employment, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing to pay compensatory and punitive damages. 4/13/2016 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Michigan Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Research Died

This bill applies to insurers that provide Medicare supplement policies or certificates only. Denying or conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of insurance, including pre-existing condition exclusions, on the basis of genetic information is prohibited. These insurers of these policies or certificates may not (1) discriminate with respect to pricing on the basis of genetic information, (2) request or require an individual or family member to undergo a genetic test (with an exception regarding requesting a test), or (3) use the manifestation of disease in an individual as genetic information about another group members and to further increase premiums for the group. Insurers may request a genetic test from an individual or family member only if the request is pursuant to research that applies to the Common Rule and other criteria are met. Measure failed.

Missouri Privacy Died

Protects the privacy of student data, which encompasses biometric records. Biometric records is defined to include DNA. 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.

Missouri Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Proposes a Constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, to provide that prohibits health plans from limiting or excluding benefits relating to any condition based on the fact that the condition is a preexisting condition or charging a different premium rate or imposing different out-of-pocket costs for the same coverage based on the fact that a person covered under the plan has a preexisting condition. Genetic information should not be treated as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information. 4/22/2021 Voted Do Pass Senate Insurance and Banking Committee. Died.

New Mexico Privacy Died

Prohibits the disclosure of sensitive personal information by a state agency employee acquired by virtue of the employee's position with a state agency to anyone outside the state agency except under specified circumstances. Died.

Connecticut Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurance companies from requiring genetic testing or using genetic information in connection with life insurance policies and annuity contracts. Died.

New York Research Died

Regulates the use of human subjects for medical research and experimentation, including subjects with mental disorders and children. Died.

Displaying 101 - 150 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. 

Last updated: February 8, 2024