Alabama Enacts Genetic Privacy Bill
Lexology May 20, 2024
On May 16, 2024, Alabama enacted a genetic privacy bill (HB 21), which regulates consumer-facing genetic testing companies. HB 21 continues the recent trend of states enacting genetic privacy legislation aimed at regulating direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) genetic testing companies, such as in Nebraska and Virginia, with more than 10 states now having similar laws on the books.
Scope of HB 21
HB 21 regulates “genetic testing companies’” practices involving “genetic data.” HB 21 defines a “genetic testing company” as “[a]ny person, other than a health care provider, that directly solicits a biological sample from a consumer for analysis in order to provide products or services to the consumer which include disclosure of information that may include, but is not limited to,...