H.R. 3029, the Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act, passed the House on July 20, 2026.
H.R. 3029 — Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act
What it does
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop best practices, technical standards, and screening tools for nucleic acid synthesis—the process of creating DNA and RNA sequences. It requires NIST to convene industry, academic, and nonprofit stakeholders to establish screening standards that can detect potentially dangerous biological sequences before they are synthesized, and authorizes $5 million per year through 2030 to support this work.
Quorum's transparency scan found no buried provisions in Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act.
What happens next
H.R. 3029 passed the House. It now moves to the other chamber.
Who is behind it
Filed by Andrea Salinas. Cosponsored by Josh Riley, Rich McCormick and Sarah McBride.