Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act

The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act (S.3741) is a US Senate bill introduced in January 2026 mandating DNA and gene-synthesis providers to screen every order against a federal registry of hazardous sequences, including sequences generated or modified by AI tools. The bill's core requirements include compulsory pre-synthesis screening, mandatory reporting of flagged orders, consolidation of biosecurity oversight across agencies, and minimum security standards for synthesis equipment. Proponents argue that existing voluntary protocols cover only close matches to known pathogens, not novel AI-designed variants. As of June 2026 the bill remained in Senate committee.