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
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.

Tennessee Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prior to amendment, this bill exempt insurance pools created by an association of private, not-for-profit educational institutions that has been in existence for at least 25 years from the provisions governing genetic information nondiscrimination. This language was removed from the final version of the bill. The companion bill substituted with SB 343 signed by the Governor May 15, 2007.

Washington Privacy Died

Requires controller who determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data to obtain consent prior to processing sensitive data, including genetic data. Controllers must conduct an assessment of activities pertaining to the processing of sensitive data. Died.

Massachusetts Other Topics Died

Prohibits local or state administrative, legislative or regulatory body or instrumentality from engaging in discriminatory land use practices based on a variety of factors, including genetic information. 4/11/2018 Accompanied a new draft, see H4397.

Mississippi Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

In the group health market genetic information may not be excluded as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to the genet ic information. Measure failed.

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.

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 Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits health plans from denying coverage for a preexisting condition unless certain conditions are met. Genetic information may not be excluded as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to the genetic information. 1/30/2018 Died in Committee.

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 Jersey Privacy Died

Establishes personal property rights to DNA samples and genetic information resulting from DNA analysis. Requires consent for use of samples and information from person sampled or analyzed. 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.

New York Privacy Died

Requires written notification to parents of infant's whose DNA or blood spots are retained. 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.

Oklahoma Other Topics Died

Prohibits discrimination based on genetic information in housing and the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation. Died.

Virginia Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends the state employment genetic nondiscrimination law by adding the Commonwealth or any of its agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions, or any public body to the list of entities covered under the law. Measure failed.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain private entities in possession of biometric identifiers or biometric information to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a certain retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information. Biometric identifier is defined to includes a genetic print. The bill defines confidential and sensitive to include a genetic marker and genetic testing information. In the Senate - Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

Minnesota Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Died

The bill provides options to parents regarding blood samples collected for the purpose of newborn screening, including the right to authorize in writing that the blood sample and test results may be used for public health studies or research. Died.

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.

Nebraska Privacy Died

This bill amends section 71-551 of the statutes on genetic testing. Proposed changes address the types of genetic tests covered under law and and consent requirements. 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 Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This 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.

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.

New York Health Insurance Coverage Died

Provides insurance coverage for colonoscopies for individuals 45 or older based on risk factors, including genetic history. 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.

Texas Privacy Died

This bill establishes a personal property right to DNA samples. A person may not, without the informed, written consent of the individual or the individual's legal guardian or authorized representative: (1) collect a DNA sample from an individual; (2) perform a genetic test on an individual's DNA sample; or (3) retain an individual's DNA sample, with certain exceptions. Died.

West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage Died

Insurers that provide reimbursement or indemnity for laboratory or X-ray services must cover a comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for cancer due to positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice nurse. Died.

Michigan Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill allows a health insurer to request a genetic test as additional information for prior authorization. (See version passed by the Senate). Measure failed.

Missouri Privacy Died

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

Illinois Health Insurance Coverage Died

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services must authorize the provision of, and payment for, a baseline mammograms for women 35-39 and mammograms at certain intervals for women over 40. Women under 40 with risk factors such as positive genetic testing should receive mammograms as medical necessary. Measure failed.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based on the results of a genetic test or the provision of genetic information. Insurers may not require and applicant to undergo a genetic test or answer questions about genetic testing. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Requires certain businesses, when destroying a customers records that contain personal or private information of the customer, to take specific steps to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. Personal information is defined to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

Rhode Island Health Insurance Coverage Died

Establishes a rare disease medication reinsurance fund. Creates and establishes funding for a rare disease medication advisory council. Based on information from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the council must recommend the drugs to be covered, an assessment rate, and a funding distribution method. The council must recommend for inclusion only those medications that are high cost prescription drugs, gene therapies or cell therapies designated as orphan drugs by the federal drug administration. 2/23/2021 Committee recommended measure be held for further study. Died.

Washington Health Insurance Coverage Died

Substitute bill version: Requires the drug utilization review board to consider the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of drugs and gene therapies in its recommendations to the director of the authority regarding coverage for medical assistance programs. Died.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires insurance coverage for magnetic resonance imaging for certain persons for the detection of breast cancer, including women who have tested positive for Breast Cancer Gene 1 or Breast Cancer Gene 2 mutations or one or more first degree relatives test positive for Breast Cancer Gene 1 or Breast Cancer Gene 2 mutations. 3/28/2016 Accompanied a study order, see H4111.

Minnesota Privacy Died

The controller of a legal entity that conducts business in the state may not process sensitive data concerning a consumer without obtaining the consumer's consent, or, in the case of the processing of personal data concerning a known child, without obtaining consent from the child's parent or lawful guardian, in accordance with the children's online privacy protection act requirements. Sensitive data is defined to include genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person. The law does not apply to various types of information and entities such as protected health information under HIPAA and identifiable private information according to federal policy for the protection of human subjects. Died.

California Privacy Died

This bill states that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to protect individuals from the unauthorized use of their genetic information, ensure that genetic information is personal information that is not collected, stored, or disclosed without the individual's authorization, provide protections for the collection, storage, and authorized use of genetic information, and promote the use of genetic information for legitimate reasons, including, but not limited to, health care, research, advancement of medicine, and educational purposes, as the field of genomics advances. Died.

New Hampshire Privacy Died

Establishes and individual's property right to his or her genetic information and DNA sample, except as expressly otherwise provided in statute. Requires consent to acquire, retain, or disclose a person's genetic information or DNA sample. 5/2/2018 Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV.

Florida 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. 3/14/20/20 Died in Rules.

New York Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits any group or blanket health insurance policy from excluding coverage for any group member based on a predisposing genetic characteristic, and prohibits any hospital service corporation, health service corporation or medical expense indemnity corporation contract from excluding coverage for any group member based on predisposing genetic characteristics. Measure failed.

Kentucky 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.

North Carolina Employment Nondiscrimination, Other Topics Died

Creates the Equal Employment and Equal Access to Public Accommodations Act. Declares that it is the public policy of the State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity to all individuals to seek, obtain and hold employment without discrimination or abridgment and to enjoy fully and equally the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of places of public accommodations free of discrimination because of race, sex, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, handicap, or disability. Declares that it is the policy of the State Board of Community Colleges, local boards of trustees of the State of North Carolina, and the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina not to discriminate among students. Died.

Maryland Privacy Died

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act by adding activity tracking data to the scope of protected information. Activity tracking data is defined to include genetic information; genetic samples; genetic tests of an individual or family member; and requests for or receipt of a genetic test, genetic counseling or genetic education. Died.

Texas Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Relates to a prohibition on the use of genetic information gathered from direct-to-consumer genetic tests by a long-term care benefit plan issuer or a life insurance company. 5/17/2021 Received from the House. Died.

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 damage. 4/13/2016 Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

California Other Topics Died

Establishes the Commission on the State of Hate. Requires the commission to advise the Legislature, the Governor, and state agencies on, among other things, policy recommendations to promote intersocial education designed to foster mutual respect and understanding among California�s diverse population. Appointees to the commission are comprised of experts in combating hate, intolerance, and discrimination on the basis of various factors such as genetic information. Died.

New Jersey 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.

Hawaii Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

The board of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund must require every health benefits plan established or contracted to include lower deductibles and co-payments for non-smokers of tobacco and other persons engaged in low risk health behaviors that are designed, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, to encourage preventative health care, promote wellness, and discourage medically unnecessary use of health care services; provided that the board consults with medical professionals to determine what should be included as low risk health behaviors. Genetic factors and pre-existing medical conditions may not be considered as a behavior when determining what constitutes low risk behavior. Died.

New York Privacy Died

Prohibits the release of personally identifiable student information, including DNA sequence, where parental consent is not provided. Died.

Displaying 201 - 250 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