On April 29, 2002, the Washington Post reported on a Brookings Institute study which concluded, that because the government and private industry cannot guard against every conceivable kind of attack, officials should devote the bulk of resources to protecting against nuclear, chemical or biological terrorism. Several states have already begun to introduce and pass such bills.

Maryland, North Carolina, Wisconsin - Biological Agents Registry
Over the past months, several bills have emerged that demand the establishment of a registry of all potentially dangerous biological materials that are possessed and maintained in the state. The registry is a list of specified biological agents, along with the names of laboratories and other facilities that use and keep those materials. This information is vital in the event of a possible terrorist biological attack. The Registry will also provide a listing of experts knowledgeable about these biological agents.

North Carolina’s Biological Agents Registry
Wisconsin’s Biological Agents Registry
Maryland’s  Biological Agents Registry

New York - Prevention of Environmental Terrorism Act
Assemblyman David Koon of New York State has introduced A9935, the Prevention of Environmental Terrorism Act of 2002. If passed, the bill will prevent the use of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes in terrorist acts by directing the department of motor vehicles and environmental conservation to require background checks for transporters of hazardous waste and materials. The bill prohibits individuals who have been convicted of terrorist acts and or violent felonies and several listed crimes from being licensed to transport hazardous materials. This bill also includes mandatory five year and one year waiting periods for individuals convicted of listed lesser offenses. Although there are federal and state laws requiring permits for operating environmental facilities, such as for transporters of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials, there is no New York state law requirement for a background check for persons applying to transport these substances. The bill also implements the federal antiterrorism act of 2001 commonly referred to as the "USA PATRIOT Act" regarding transporting hazardous materials in New York. NEW YORK- Prevention of Environmental Terrorism Act.

Maryland - Chemical Terrorism Protection Act of 2002
The Chemical Terrorism Protection Act of 2002 was introduced into the Maryland Senate by Senator Brian E. Frosh. Industrial chemical facilities are increasingly seen as potential terrorist targets, and this bill forces security and risk reduction improvements at facilities that use dangerous chemicals.  This bill will require owners and operators of chemical sources to use safer technology or certify that they cannot, while also establishing certain requirements for certification and enforcement provisions, including specific civil and criminal penalties. New Jersey Senator John Corzine says such facilities are “an obvious vulnerability” and introduced a similar bill to the U.S. Senate this past October.