Don’t Sell My DNA Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Introduced
Summary
Protecting genetic information in bankruptcy is the bill's main goal. It would treat genetic data as defined by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) as a protected category, require written consent and actual prior notice before any use, sale, or lease, and mandate deletion of estate-held genetic data that is not disposed under §363.
Show full summary
- People and families whose genetic data becomes part of a bankruptcy estate would have to receive actual prior written notice and give affirmative written consent before any use, sale, or lease, including for non‑parties.
- Trustees and debtors in possession would be required to delete genetic information that was property of the estate but not sold, using court‑approved sanitization methods such as National Institute of Standards and Technology media sanitization guidance. The rules would take effect on enactment and would apply to cases pending at enactment and to cases commenced or reopened after enactment.
- Buyers, researchers, and other purchasers could not lawfully use, sell, or lease estate-held genetic data unless each affected person has been provided actual prior written notice and has affirmatively consented in writing.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger DNA privacy in bankruptcy
If enacted, the bill would treat genetic information as protected personal data in bankruptcy cases. Trustees and buyers would not be allowed to use, sell, or lease any genetic data unless every affected person gives written consent after the case starts. Each person would also have to get actual written notice before any such deal is final. If the data is not sold, trustees or debtors-in-possession would have to delete it using court-approved methods, such as NIST media sanitization. These rules would cover genetic information as defined by federal law.
DNA protections apply to pending cases
If enacted, these rules would take effect the day the bill becomes law. They would apply to any bankruptcy case already pending on that day, and to any case started or reopened after. Trustees, debtors, creditors, and buyers would need to follow the new consent, notice, and deletion rules right away.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Cosponsors
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov