SB 757 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Disability and Life Insurance - Medical Information (Genetic Testing Protection Act)

SB 757, the Genetic Testing Protection Act, prohibits Maryland life, long-term care, and disability insurance companies from using genetic test results or an applicant's decision to undergo genetic testing to deny coverage, increase premiums, cancel policies, or change terms. It directly affects insurance carriers and policyholders seeking these insurance types by banning discrimination based on genetic information. The law allows insurers to review medical records and consider diagnoses (even if based on genetic tests) but forbids them from using genetic test results themselves to make coverage decisions. It also prevents insurers from requiring policyholders to avoid genetic testing to maintain coverage. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action Apr 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Genetic Testing - Prohibition on Disability, Life, and Long-Term Care Insurance (Genetic Testing Protection Act) Third - Disability and Life Insurance - Medical Information (Genetic Testing Protection Act) · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand its scope from only prohibiting genetic testing discrimination to also addressing unfair discrimination based on medical information and restricting access to sensitive medical data without consent. The changes add new protections against insurers mandating genetic testing as a requirement for coverage and clarify the relationship between medical information and insurance risk.
Scope change
The bill now covers broader protections against unfair discrimination based on medical information in addition to genetic testing protections, and adds restrictions on how insurers can access sensitive medical information.
SCOPE

Added language prohibiting unfair discrimination based on medical information beyond just genetic testing results

REQUIREMENT

Added prohibition on insurers accessing sensitive medical information including genetic data without first obtaining written consent from the individual

Added prohibition on insurers mandating genetic testing or full genome sequencing as a prerequisite for life or disability insurance eligibility or coverage

Added language requiring insurers to demonstrate a relationship between medical information and insurance risk when conditioning rates or coverage

DEFINITION

Modified the title and purpose section to reflect the expanded scope including medical information protections

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025

How they voted

440
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 46
Mar 19, 2025
D Democratic33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Apr 5, 2025
Committee
Referred Rules and Executive Nominations
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-2)
senate
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Alonzo Washington
Alonzo Washington
DDemocratic
MD
22