DNA synthesis now requires federal screening—and compliance costs may favor big biotech
S. 3741 — Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026 · Filed by Tom Cotton (R-AR) · 5 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 29, 2026 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill requires companies that synthesize or sell DNA/RNA sequences and related equipment to screen orders and customers against a federal list of dangerous sequences, verify customer identity, and undergo audits to prevent misuse. It also establishes a federal 'sandbox' for testing biosecurity innovations and directs the government to streamline fragmented biosecurity oversight across multiple agencies within one year.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to establish mandatory screening and compliance requirements for synthetic nucleic acid providers, coupled with a government-wide assessment to consolidate fragmented biosecurity authorities. It is regulatory modernization, not innovation subsidy or deregulation.
What the text implies
- The 'sequences of concern' list will be maintained by the Secretary and updated via algorithmic scanning and industry self-reporting, creating a dynamic regulatory target that may shift faster than covered providers can adapt, potentially creating compliance uncertainty.
- The conformity assessment system includes 'red-teaming' (adversarial testing) at random intervals, which may impose significant operational costs on smaller synthetic biology companies and could create barriers to entry for startups.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Established synthetic nucleic acid manufacturers with compliance infrastructure; Biotechnology equipment vendors with existing quality-assurance systems; Consulting and compliance-services firms specializing in biosecurity