HB0182 • 2026

Genetic Information Amendments

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Rep. Brooks, Walt
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Governor Signed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Genetic Information Amendments

This bill addresses the use of genetic sequencing tools and the storage of genetic sequencing data.

What This Bill Does

This bill addresses the use of genetic sequencing tools and the storage of genetic sequencing data.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-17 Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Governor Signed
2026-03-11 Clerk of the House
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
2026-03-11 Executive Branch - Governor
House/ to Governor
2026-03-03 Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
2026-03-03 Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
2026-02-24 Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
Bill Received from House for Enrolling
2026-02-24 Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
2026-02-20 Senate President
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
2026-02-20 House Speaker
House/ received from Senate
2026-02-20 Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
2026-02-20 Senate President
House/ to Senate
2026-02-20 Senate President
Senate/ received from House
2026-02-20 House Speaker
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2026-02-20 House Speaker
Senate/ to House
2026-02-19 House Concurrence Calendar
House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
2026-02-19 Clerk of the House
House/ received from Senate
2026-02-19 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ circled
2026-02-19 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ floor amendment
2026-02-19 Clerk of the House
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
2026-02-19 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ placed back on 3rd Reading Calendar
2026-02-19 Clerk of the House
Senate/ to House with amendments
2026-02-19 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ uncircled
2026-02-09 Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0182S05
2026-02-05 Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0182S04
2026-02-05 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182S05
2026-02-05 Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ 2nd reading
2026-02-05 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ 3rd reading
2026-02-05 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
2026-02-05 Senate 3rd Reading Calendar Table
Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
2026-02-05 Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ substituted
2026-02-04 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182S04
2026-02-04 Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
2026-02-04 Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182S03
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182S04
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182S05
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182S03
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182S04
2026-02-03 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182S05
2026-02-03 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182S03
2026-02-03 Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2026-02-03 Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
2026-02-03 Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
2026-01-30 Senate Rules Committee
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2026-01-29 House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills
House/ 3rd reading
2026-01-29 Senate Secretary
House/ passed 3rd reading
2026-01-29 Senate Secretary
House/ to Senate
2026-01-29 Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
Senate/ received from House
2026-01-23 House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills
House/ 2nd reading
2026-01-23 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
House/ comm rpt/ substituted
2026-01-23 Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0182S02
2026-01-23 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182S02
2026-01-22 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2026-01-22 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
2026-01-22 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182S02
2026-01-22 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182S02
2026-01-21 House Rules Committee
Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
2026-01-21 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
House/ to standing committee
2026-01-21 Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0182S01
2026-01-20 House Rules Committee
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2026-01-20 Clerk of the House
House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
2026-01-20 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182S01
2026-01-17 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182S01
2026-01-17 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182S01
2026-01-16 Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0182
2026-01-16 Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0182
2026-01-14 Clerk of the House
House/ received bill from Legislative Research
2026-01-07 Legislative Research and General Counsel
Bill Numbered but not Distributed
2026-01-07 Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0182
2026-01-07 Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0182
2026-01-07 Legislative Research and General Counsel
Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

Official Summary Text

This bill addresses the use of genetic sequencing tools and the storage of genetic sequencing data.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

5
26B-2-244
26B-2-244
0
Genetic Information Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks
Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the use of genetic sequencing tools and the storage of genetic
sequencing data.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
prohibits the use of certain genetic sequencers and genetic sequencing software;
prescribes requirements and restrictions related to the storage of genetic sequencing data;
requires relevant entities to certify compliance with genetic sequencing requirements;
authorizes the attorney general to investigate alleged violations of genetic sequencing
requirements, and initiate civil actions for those violations; and
provides protections for an employee who reports a suspected violation of genetic
sequencing requirements to the attorney general.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
26B-2-244
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
26B-2-244
is enacted to read:
26B-2-244
. Genetic sequencing -- Storage of genetic information -- Enforcement.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid.
(b)
"Domicile" means the country where:
(i)
a company is registered and headquartered;
(ii)
a company's affairs are primarily completed; or
(iii)
the majority of a company's ownership share is held.
(c)
"Foreign adversary" means a foreign adversary identified in 15 C.F.R. Sec. 791.4.
(d)
"Genetic sequencer" means a device or platform used to conduct genetic sequencing,
resequencing, isolation, or other similar genetic research.
(e)
"Genetic sequencing" means a method to determine the identity and order of
nucleotide bases in the human genome.
(f)
"Genomic research facility" means a facility that conducts research on, with, or
relating to genetic sequencing or the human genome.
(g)
"Human genome" means a complete set of nucleic acid sequences for a human,
encoded as the DNA within each of the 23 distinct chromosomes in the cell nucleus.
(h)
"Medical facility" means a facility for the delivery of health services that:
(i)
receives public funds, including pass-through appropriations from the federal
government;
(ii)
is registered to provide health care services in the state; or
(iii)
conducts research or testing on, with, or relating to genetic sequencing or the
human genome.
(i)
(i)
"Open data" means genetic sequencing data that is available in the public
domain, including in publicly available and open source repositories, databases, or
publications.
(ii)
"Open data" includes genetic sequencing data derived from standard research cell
lines.
(j)
"Operational and research software" means a computer program used for the
operation, control, analysis, or other necessary functions of genetic sequencing or a
genetic sequencer.
(k)
"Software" means a program or routine, or a set of one or more programs or routines,
used or intended for use to cause one or more computers or pieces of
computer-related peripheral equipment, to perform a task or set of tasks related to
genetic sequencing or a genetic sequencer.
(2)
(a)
A medical facility or genomic research facility may not use a genetic sequencer or
operational and research software that is a final product produced in or by, or
distributed by, a foreign adversary, a foreign adversary's state-owned enterprise, a
person domiciled within a foreign adversary, or an owned or controlled subsidiary or
affiliate of a person domiciled within a foreign adversary.
(b)
A medical facility or genomic research facility with a genetic sequencer or genetic
sequencing device prohibited under Subsection
(2)(a)
that is not permanently
disabled shall:
(i)
remove or permanently disable the genetic sequencer or genetic sequencing
device; and
(ii)
use a genetic sequencer or genetic sequencing device that is not prohibited by
Subsection
(2)(a)
.
(3)
(a)
A medical facility, genomic research facility, or other person that stores genetic
sequencing data may not store the data within the boundaries of a foreign adversary.
(b)
Remote access to genetic sequencing data storage, other than open data, by a person
within the boundaries of a foreign adversary is prohibited unless approved in writing
by the department.
(c)
A medical facility, genomic research facility, or other person that stores genetic
sequencing data other than open data, including through a contract with a third-party
data storage provider, shall ensure the security of the genetic sequencing data by
using reasonable encryption methods, restrictions on access, and other cybersecurity
best practices.
(d)
Genetic sequencing data gathered as part of a clinical trial is exempt from the
provisions of this Subsection
(3)
, if the genetic sequencing data is gathered:
(i)
from clinical trial subjects outside the United States; or
(ii)
as part of a clinical trial and the storage, transfer, or remote access to the data is
otherwise permitted under 28 C.F.R. Part 202.
(4)
(a)
(i)
No later than December 31, 2028, each medical facility and genomic
research facility that is subject to this section shall provide a sworn statement to
the attorney general and the department confirming that the medical facility or
genomic research facility is in compliance with the requirements of this section.
(ii)
Each medical facility and genomic facility that is subject to this section shall
provide the sworn statement described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
to the attorney
general and the department every 10 years.
(b)
A person that violates Subsection
(2)
is subject to a fine of $10,000 per violation,
enforceable beginning May 1, 2028.
(c)
For the purposes of Subsection
(4)(b)
, each unique instance of a human genome
undergoing genetic sequencing or analysis using a prohibited genetic sequencer or
prohibited operational and research software is a separate violation.
(d)
A person that knowingly violates the provisions of Subsection
(3)(a)
by storing
genetic sequencing data within the boundaries of a foreign adversary is subject to a
fine of $10,000 per violation, enforceable beginning May 1, 2028.
(e)
This Subsection
(4)
does not apply to an entity that is subject to Title 13, Chapter 60,
Part 1, Genetic Information Privacy Act.
(5)
(a)
The attorney general has the sole authority to enforce the provisions of this section.
(b)
Any person may notify the attorney general of a violation or potential violation of
this section, and the attorney general may investigate an alleged violation of this
section and institute appropriate actions regarding suspected violations.
(c)
The attorney general may initiate a civil action against a person for violating
Subsection
(2)
or
(3)
.
(d)
In an action to enforce Subsection
(2)
or
(3)
, the attorney general may recover:
(i)
actual damages;
(ii)
costs;
(iii)
attorney fees; and
(iv)
$10,000 for each violation of Subsection
(2)
or
(3)
.
(6)
An employer may not take an adverse employment action against an employee if:
(a)
the employee notifies the attorney general of a violation or potential violation of this
section; and
(b)
the adverse employment action is based on the employee notifying the attorney
general regarding the violation.
(7)
If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision to any person or
circumstance, is held to be invalid, that holding does not affect the remainder of this
section or the application of this section's provisions to any other person or circumstance.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
January 1, 2028
.
2-24-26 11:55 AM