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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 Summary
Washington Health Insurance Coverage Pending

Requires an osteopathic physician and, physician, physician's assistant and advanced registered nurse practitioner to refer a person who is 18 years of age or younger to a children's specialty health care facility that can provide specialized diagnostic services, including genetic testing, unless the person is currently receiving care in such a facility, if the person has experienced any neurological or physical symptoms, including but not limited to seizures or missing developmental milestones. Requires a health carrier must provide coverage for genetic testing including up to a full genome panel as determined by the ordering practitioner to identify potential causes of seizures, neurological symptoms, or other physical symptoms as determined by the health care provider in persons who are 18 years of age or younger. Carries over to 2022.

Washington Privacy Pending

Creates a charter of people's personal data rights. Establishes the rights of an individual with regard to personal information. Prohibits a person or legal entity processing captured personal information in a manner that discriminates against consumer on the basis of various characteristics, including predisposing genetic characteristics. Carries over to 2022.

Washington Privacy Pending

Prohibits a data controller from processing sensitive data concerning a consumer without obtaining the consumer's consent or, in the case of the processing of sensitive data of 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. Data controllers must conduct and document a data protection assessment of processing activities involving personal data, including sensitive data such as genetic data. Carries over to 2022.

West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires health_insurance_coverage of a comprehensive ultrasound screening if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other indications as determined by a woman�s physician or advanced practice nurse. To House Banking and Insurance 02/23/21. Died.

West Virginia Privacy Died

Requires a business that collects personal information about consumers to maintain an online privacy policy, make such policy available on its Internet website, and update the information at least once every 12 months. Personal information includes biometric information such as an individual's DNA. 3/15/2021 To House Judiciary. Died.

West Virginia Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Requires health benefit plans to provide insurance to persons without regard to their health status. Prohibits insurers from using genetic information in decisions regarding premium, deductible, copay or coinsurance. 3/5/2021 To Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. Died.

Illinois Genetic discrimination Introduced

As Introduced: Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Provides that an insurer may not seek information derived from genetic testing for use in connection with a policy of life insurance. Provides that an insurer may consider the results of genetic testing in connection with a policy of life insurance if the individual voluntarily submits the results and the results are favorable to the individual. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer must comply with the provisions of the Genetic Information Privacy Act in connection with the amendment, delivery, issuance, or renewal of a life insurance policy; claims for or denial of coverage under a life insurance policy; or the determination of premiums or rates under a life insurance policy.

Nebraska Genetic discrimination Approved

Adopt the Genetic Information Privacy Act.

Arizona Coverage and reimbursement Introduced

Cancer screening; coverage; gene mutation.

California Neonatal sequencing Died

SB 625 would make changes to the California Newborn Screening Program.

California Neonatal sequencing Pending

Newborn screening: genetic diseases: blood samples collected.

Florida Neonatal sequencing Died

Children?s Medical Services Program; Deleting a requirement that the Department of Health consult with the Department of Education before prescribing certain newborn testing and screening requirement...

Georgia Genetic Data & Law Enforcement Enacted

Relating to determination of paternity, so as to align evidentiary medical and genetic testing with the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017.

Hawaii Parentage law Passed Senate

Relating to parentage. Enacts portions of the uniform parentage act of 2017 to replace the uniform parentage act of 1973. effective 3/22/2075.

Hawaii Parentage law Introduced

Relating to parentage. Enacts portions of the uniform parentage act of 2017 to replace the uniform parentage act of 1973. takes effect 1/1/2024.

Illinois Neonatal sequencing Introduced

As Introduced: Creates the Sickle Cell Prevention, Care, and Treatment Program Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish a grant program for the prevention, care, and treatment of sickle cell disease and for educational programs concerning the disease. Requires the Department to: (1) develop application criteria and standards of eligibility for groups or organizations that apply for funds under the program; and (2) make available grants to groups and organizations that meet the eligibility standards set by the Department. Provides that the highest priority for grants shall be given to established sickle cell disease community-based organizations, and priority shall be given to ensuring the establishment of sickle cell disease centers in underserved areas with a higher population of sickle cell disease patients. Requires the Department to determine the maximum amount available for each grant; determine policies for the expiration and renewal of grants; require that all grant funds be used for the purpose of prevention, care, and treatment of sickle cell disease or for educational programs concerning the disease; and develop a sickle cell disease educational outreach program that includes the dissemination of educational materials to specified persons and institutions. Permits the Department to contract with an entity to implement the outreach program. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Requires the Department to conduct a study to determine the prevalence, impact, and needs of individuals with sickle cell disease and the sickle cell trait in Illinois. Provides that implementation of the Act is subject to appropriation. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Sickle Cell Chronic Disease Fund.

Illinois Neonatal sequencing Introduced

As Introduced: Amends Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Creates the Cannabis Equity and Oversight Commission. Provides that the Commission shall administer and enforce the provisions of the Act relating to the oversight, licensing, registration, and certification of dispensing organizations, cultivation centers, craft growers, infuser organizations, transporting organizations, laboratories, and agents, including, but not limited to, the issuance of identification cards and establishing limits on the potency or serving size of cannabis or cannabis products. Provides that the Commission may suspend or revoke the license of, or impose other penalties upon, dispensing organizations, cultivation centers, craft growers, infuser organizations, transporting organizations, laboratories, and their principal officers, agents-in-charge, and agents for violations of the Act or any rules adopted under the Act. Makes conforming changes throughout various Acts. Contains other provisions. Effective July 1, 2023.

Minnesota Lab Developed Tests Died

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies required to provide disclosure notices and obtain consent.

Illinois Neonatal sequencing Introduced

As Introduced: Restores the statutes to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 102-662. Repeals the Energy Transition Act, the Energy Community Reinvestment Act, the Community Energy, Climate, and Jobs Planning Act, and the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund Act. Effective immediately.

Illinois Neonatal sequencing Introduced

As Introduced: Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Minnesota Coverage and reimbursement Died

Health and human services supplemental budget bill.

Georgia Neonatal sequencing Died

Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage of rapid whole genome sequencing; to define a term; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for coverage criteria; to provide for necessary approvals and administrative actions.

Georgia Neonatal sequencing Died

Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage of rapid whole genome sequencing; to define a term; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for coverage criteria; to provide for necessary approvals and administrative actions.

Kansas Genetic Data & Law Enforcement, Parentage law Introduced

Enacting the Kansas uniform parentage act (2017).

Kansas Neonatal sequencing Introduced

Expanding newborn screening services and increasing transfer from the medical assistance fee fund to the Kansas newborn screening fund.

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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