Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced
Summary
Controls exports of digital designs for synthetic DNA and RNA to specified foreign actors. This bill would create a new license requirement in the Export Control Reform Act for exporting, reexporting, or transferring in-country digital sequence files of synthetic DNA or RNA that are designed by humans or artificial intelligence, while excepting information covered by section 734.3(b) of the Export Administration Regulations.
Show full summary
- Biotech companies and researchers would need a government license to send digital sequence files to a foreign entity of concern, with the rule taking effect within one year of enactment.
- Foreign entities of concern include governments of countries of concern and foreign persons organized under or subject to those countries, so transfers to those actors would be restricted.
- Policymakers framed the change as protecting U.S. intellectual property and sensitive synthetic biology information from adversaries, citing concerns about the People's Republic of China and military-civil fusion strategies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New export rules for genetic files
This bill would create new rules for digital DNA and RNA sequence files. It would define "digital sequence" and "synthetic DNA or RNA" on enactment. Within one year, the Secretary would have to require a license to export, reexport, or transfer such files to a foreign entity of concern. The rule would not apply to information covered by Export Administration Regulations section 734.3(b). If enacted, exporters, biotech firms, and research labs would face new compliance and licensing obligations.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
AR • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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