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Genetic Discrimination Act Restriction Becomes Effective

Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.22.09

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 ("GINA") is a new federal law that protects Americans from discrimination and from being treated unfairly on the basis of differences in their DNA that may affect their health. President George W. Bush signed the Act into law on May 21, 2008, and a key portion pertaining to health insurers goes into effect May 21, 2009. The provision dealing with health insurers prevents those entities from denying coverage, adjusting premiums or otherwise discriminating based on genetic information. Prior to the enactment of this law, many states had adopted similar regulations, and GINA is designed to set the requisite minimum standards against genetic discrimination in the health insurance industry. This new law does not pertain to life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance.

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.06.26

House Advances Bipartisan Kids' Online Safety Bill, But Senate Showdown Looms

On June 22, 2026, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) announced a bipartisan agreement on a revised version of the KIDS Act (H.R. 7757), marking the most significant congressional advance on children's online safety legislation in years. The House passed H.R. 7757, as amended, on June 29, 2026, setting up a potential showdown with the Senate. The revised KIDS Act consolidates elements of 14 pending legislative proposals — including KOSA and COPPA 2.0, both of which have previously passed the Senate and cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee — into a single, comprehensive framework. The announcement, however, was met immediately with objections from Senate sponsors and civil liberties groups, underscoring the difficult legislative road ahead....

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