By: Bonnen, Orr, et al. H.B. No. 130
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to genetic information security for residents of this
state; providing a civil penalty; providing a private cause of
action.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 174 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 174. SECURITY OF GENETIC INFORMATION
Sec. 174.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the
Texas Genomic Act of 2025.
Sec. 174.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Company" means a sole proprietorship,
organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or
limited liability company that exists to make a profit. The term
includes a wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary,
parent company, or affiliate of those entities or business
associations.
(2) "Domicile" means the country in which:
(A) a company or nonprofit organization is
formed, incorporated, or registered and headquartered;
(B) a company's or nonprofit organization's
affairs are primarily conducted; or
(C) the majority of the company's ownership
shares are held.
(3) "Foreign adversary" has the meaning assigned by 15
C.F.R. Section 791.4(a).
(4) "Genome sequencer" means any device or platform
used to conduct genome sequencing, resequencing, or isolation or
other genome research.
(5) "Genome sequencing" means any method used to
determine the identity and order of nucleotide bases in the human
genome.
(6) "Human genome" means the set of DNA found in human
cells.
(7) "Medical facility" means a facility licensed or
registered by a state or federal agency to provide health care
services that receives any state funding, including pass-through
federal money provided to a state agency for grant awards.
(8) "Software" means computer programs and related
equipment used for genome sequencing or the operation, control,
analysis, research, or other functions of genome sequencers.
Sec. 174.003. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to a
medical facility, research facility, company, or nonprofit
organization that conducts research on or testing of genome
sequencing or the human genome in this state.
Sec. 174.004. PURPOSE AND LEGISLATIVE POLICY. (a) The
purpose of this chapter is to ensure that a medical facility,
research facility, company, or nonprofit organization subject to
this chapter does not provide a foreign adversary access to the
genetic information of residents of this state.
(b) The policy of this state is to:
(1) oppose the collection and analysis of genomic
information by a foreign adversary or for use by a foreign
adversary; and
(2) support sanctions the United States Department of
Commerce or the United States Department of Defense imposes on a
medical facility, research facility, company, or nonprofit
organization engaged in the collection and analysis of genomic
information for use by a foreign adversary.
Sec. 174.005. PROHIBITED USE OF CERTAIN GENOME SEQUENCERS
AND GENOME SEQUENCING TECHNOLOGIES. A medical facility, research
facility, company, or nonprofit organization subject to this
chapter may not use a genome sequencer or software produced by or on
behalf of:
(1) a foreign adversary;
(2) a state-owned enterprise of a foreign adversary;
(3) a company or nonprofit organization domiciled
within the borders of a country that is a foreign adversary; or
(4) an owned or controlled subsidiary or affiliate of
a company or nonprofit organization domiciled within the borders of
a country that is a foreign adversary.
Sec. 174.006. REQUIREMENTS FOR GENOMIC INFORMATION
STORAGE. (a) A medical facility, research facility, company, or
nonprofit organization subject to this chapter may not store any
genome sequencing data of a resident of this state at a location
within the borders of a country that is a foreign adversary.
(b) A medical facility, research facility, company, or
nonprofit organization subject to this chapter that stores genome
sequencing data of residents of this state, including storage of
genome sequencing data through a contract with a third-party data
storage company, shall ensure the security of the genome sequencing
data using reasonable encryption methods, restriction on access,
and other cybersecurity best practices.
(c) A medical facility, research facility, company, or
nonprofit organization subject to this chapter shall ensure genome
sequencing data of residents of this state, other than open data, is
inaccessible to any person located within the borders of a country
that is a foreign adversary.
Sec. 174.007. REQUIRED ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE.
(a) Not later than December 31 of each year, a medical facility,
research facility, company, or nonprofit organization subject to
this chapter shall certify to the attorney general that the
facility, company, or organization is in compliance with this
chapter.
(b) An attorney representing a medical facility, research
facility, company, or nonprofit organization subject to this
chapter shall submit the certification required under Subsection
(a).
Sec. 174.008. INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.
(a) The attorney general may investigate an allegation of a
violation of this chapter.
(b) Any person may notify the attorney general of a
violation or potential violation of this chapter.
Sec. 174.009. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A medical facility,
research facility, company, or nonprofit organization that
violates this chapter is liable to this state for a civil penalty of
$10,000 for each violation.
(b) The attorney general may bring an action to recover the
civil penalty imposed under this section.
(c) An action under this section may be brought in a
district court in:
(1) Travis County; or
(2) a county in which any part of the violation occurs.
(d) The attorney general shall deposit a civil penalty
collected under this section in the state treasury to the credit of
the general revenue fund.
(e) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
incurred in obtaining a civil penalty under this section, including
court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs,
witness fees, and deposition expenses.
Sec. 174.010. PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION. (a) A resident of
this state who is a patient or research subject of a medical
facility, research facility, company, or nonprofit organization
subject to this chapter and who is harmed by the storage or use of
the patient's or subject's genome sequencing data in violation of
this chapter may bring an action against the facility, company, or
organization that violated this chapter and is entitled to obtain:
(1) the greater of:
(A) actual damages; or
(B) statutory damages in an amount not to exceed
$5,000 for each violation; and
(2) court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
(b) An action under this section may be brought in the
county in which the plaintiff resides.
(c) Sections 41.003 and 41.004, Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, do not apply to an action brought under this section.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the cause of
action accrued, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.