Committee hears national-security arguments and research concerns on proposed 'Genomic Security' bill

Summary

Lawmakers and outside experts debated House Bill 125, which would limit use, storage and remote access to certain genomic sequencing technologies tied to foreign adversaries; the bill was temporarily passed over to allow technical amendments and consultation with hospitals and research institutions.

House Bill 125, titled in committee as the "Louisiana Genomic Security Act of 2025," drew an extended hearing on Monday as lawmakers weighed national-security warnings from outside experts against concerns from medical and research stakeholders about costs and the impact on scientific work.

Representative Ed Horton, the bill’s author, said the measure would "safeguard individuals' genomic information from access by foreign adversaries" by defining covered technologies, limiting remote access and prescribing penalties for unauthorized uses. Horton asked the committee to consider amendments under development with health-care stakeholders.

Experts who testified in favor framed the bill as a national-security necessity. Michael Lucci, founder of State Armour, told the committee "the threat in this case ... is the Communist Party of China," and argued that companies tied to the Chinese state can be compelled under Chinese…

Committee hears national-security arguments and research concerns on proposed 'Genomic Security' bill

Summary

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