Wisconsin bill would ban foreign genetic software

Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 673 on March 27, which would have banned medical and research facilities in Wisconsin from using genetic sequencers or software produced by foreign adversaries like China. The bill, passed by the Legislature, also prohibited storing Wisconsin residents' human genome sequencing data in those countries or allowing remote access from there.[1][2][3] Evers signed the veto just a day ago, halting the measure amid a batch of 16 vetoes.

The legislation, part of the "SafeGuard Wisconsin" package pushed by groups like State Armor, aimed to curb foreign influence on sensitive health data amid national security concerns.[4][15] Universities of Wisconsin testified against it, citing logistical hurdles: many sequencers were bought years ago through resellers, making origin tracking impossible, and compliance would demand major budget and staff overhauls for data residency checks.[5] Evers agreed with the bill's intent but worried it would disrupt UW research partnerships and funding.[2][4]

For Milwaukee residents, this veto preserves access to cutting-edge genetic research at local institutions like Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Health, avoiding potential delays in cancer treatments or personalized medicine.[5] It underscores tensions between security and innovation in health care, where genetic tools drive breakthroughs but raise data privacy fears.

The vetoed bill now returns to the Legislature, which could attempt an override needing a two-thirds majority in both houses—an unlikely outcome given partisan divides.[2][14]