# Rhode Island H7639: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GENETIC INFORMATION PRIVACY ACT . Rhode Island H7639, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GENETIC INFORMATION PRIVACY ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Edith H. Ajello (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-19 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 223) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7639-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7639 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GENETIC INFORMATION PRIVACY ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-11 - Last action: 2026-06-19, Signed by Governor — Chapter 223 - Sponsor: Edith H. Ajello (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (68 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fines and legal backup for violations: benefit, high. The Attorney General enforces this law in court. Negligent violations are fined up to $1,000 per violation plus court costs. Willful violations are $1,000 to $10,000 per violation plus court costs. Penalties are paid to the person whose data was misused. Contract terms that limit or delay your lega… - Clear consent and control for genetic tests: benefit, medium. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies must give you clear, easy-to-find privacy notices. They must get your express consent to collect and use your genetic data. You must give separate consent for uses beyond testing, storing your sample, each third-party share (naming the party), and any ma… - Keeps insurers and employers out of your genes: benefit, medium. Genetic testing companies generally cannot share your genetic data with health, life, long-term care, or disability insurers, or with employers. A narrow exception applies only when the recipient is not acting in that role and keeps the data walled off. No one can punish you for using these privacy… - Who this genetic privacy law covers: mixed, low. This law covers direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies and their service providers. It does not reduce duties under other privacy laws; the strongest privacy rule applies if laws conflict. It does not apply to HIPAA-covered health records or providers handling data as medical or protected hea… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Edith H. Ajello (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Boylan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terri Cortvriend (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Arthur J. Corvese (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Megan L. Cotter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cherie L. Cruz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Susan R. Donovan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Arthur Handy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Rebecca M. Kislak (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: David J. Place (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-28 | House | GENETIC INFORMATION PRIVACY ACT PASSAGE | pass | 68 | 0 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-19: Signed by Governor — Chapter 223 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Committee recommends passage in concurrence - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for consideration (05/19/2026) - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Commerce (Senate) - 2026-04-28: House read and passed (House) - 2026-04-24: Placed on House Calendar (04/28/2026) (House) - 2026-04-09: Committee recommends passage - 2026-04-03: Scheduled for consideration (04/09/2026) - 2026-03-10: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/10/2026) - 2026-02-11: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary (House) ## Bill text - H7639 - As Introduced, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7639.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7639.pdf) ## Related bills - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law) - H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) ## Sources - [H7639 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7639.htm) - [H7639 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7639.pdf) ## Related - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026) - [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026) - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7639-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).