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H.R. 3029 119th Congress House

Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act

Official title: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 28, 2025 Introduced by: Andrea Salinas Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Biological and life sciencesCell biology and embryologyResearch and development
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 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:27 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:27 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4666)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:27 PM EDT
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4666)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:20 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3029.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:20 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4666-4667)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:20 PM EDT
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 16, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 654.
Jul 16, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-751.
Apr 29, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Apr 29, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 28, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced in House
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What's happening now July 21, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act

This bill explicitly requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the development of best practices and technical standards for nucleic acid synthesis.

Nucleic acids, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), carry genetic information within cells. Nucleic acid synthesis is the process of designing and creating custom nucleic acids; it is used in the development of medications and agricultural products. However, this technology also poses a risk of misuse (e.g., the intentional or unintentional creation of dangerous biological agents).

The bill requires NIST to carry out measurement research to support the development and improvement of biosecurity best practices and technical standards related to nucleic acid synthesis. This effort must address specified topics including nucleic acid synthesis screening, operational security, and conformity assessment. (A 2023 executive order titled Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence directed NIST to develop and refine similar specifications and best practices for use by synthetic nucleic acid providers. NIST's work on this topic is ongoing.)

In carrying out this effort, NIST must convene stakeholders to develop and periodically update consensus priorities and best practices for synthetic nucleic acid screening mechanisms. Within a specified period, NIST must submit a summary of the stakeholder group’s findings to Congress.

NIST must also take steps to advance risk management best practices and technical standards for engineering biology and biomanufacturing, including with respect to risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 9194 Cross-Congress related bill Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Lobbying activity 1

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

  • IPOLICY SOLUTIONS
    for TWIST BIOSCIENCE CORPORATION · California · 2nd Quarter 2025 (Apr 1 - June 30)

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
D
Riley, Josh
New York · Apr 30, 2025
 D
McBride, Sarah
Delaware · Apr 29, 2025
 R
McCormick, Richard
Georgia · Apr 28, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3029: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes.. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-3029/
MLA
"H.R. 3029: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes.." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-3029/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3029, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-3029/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3029: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-3029/)
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