H.B. No. 130 introduces new regulations aimed at enhancing the security of genetic information for residents of Texas. It establishes Chapter 174 in the Health and Safety Code, titled the "Texas Genomic Act of 2025," which outlines definitions, applicability, and legislative policies regarding the handling of genomic data. The bill prohibits medical facilities, research facilities, companies, and nonprofit organizations from providing access to genetic information to foreign adversaries and restricts the use of genome sequencing technologies produced by such entities. Additionally, it mandates that genomic data must not be stored in countries identified as foreign adversaries and requires compliance certifications to be submitted annually to the attorney general.
The bill also introduces civil penalties for violations, imposing a fine of $10,000 for each infraction, which the attorney general can pursue in court. Furthermore, it allows residents harmed by violations to file a private cause of action against the offending entities, seeking either actual damages or statutory damages up to $5,000 per violation, along with court costs and attorney's fees. The provisions of this act will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to causes of action that accrue on or after that date.
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