Sponsors (6)
The bill strengthens concussion identification, qualified care, and academic supports for students nationwide, but does so by imposing compliance requirements, potential funding penalties, and administrative and access burdens that could strain under-resourced states, districts, and families.
Students (K–12) will be identified earlier and receive appropriate on-site care because the law sets clear, consistent concussion definitions and strengthens recognition protocols.
Students recovering from concussions will get coordinated academic supports (progressive accommodations, cognitive rest, recovery overseers) so they can stay in school and succeed academically.
School personnel and health professionals (coaches, nurses, trainers, teachers, state-recognized clinicians) will receive required concussion training, improving prevention, recognition, and care quality in schools.
States that fail to meet the law's requirements risk losing 5–10% of ESEA funds, which could significantly reduce resources for schools and students statewide.
States and local education agencies will face new administrative, coordination, and training costs (plans, recovery overseers, posting materials), potentially straining local budgets if additional funding isn't provided.
Requiring a medical written release from a health care professional before returning to athletics could impose out-of-pocket costs and access barriers for low-income and rural students who have limited clinician access.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Conditions ESEA funds on States adopting minimum concussion-safety requirements and requires LEAs to implement concussion management plans with training, forms, and public information.
Official title: To promote minimum State requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions caused by participation in school sports, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 17, 2026 by Mark James Desaulnier · Last progress February 17, 2026
Requires States that get federal K–12 education funds and that do not already meet specified standards to adopt concussion-safety laws or regulations within five full fiscal years. Those State rules must require each local educational agency to create and run a concussion safety and management plan that includes education/training for school staff, release/report forms, treatment plans, prevention and observation materials, and public posting of CDC-consistent concussion information. Encourages schools to use multidisciplinary recovery teams, assign a school-based recovery overseer, provide progressive academic accommodations, and evaluate students for IDEA or Section 504 protections when concussion symptoms persist. Sets definitions for concussion, health care professional, school-sponsored athletic activity, and preserves existing civil/criminal liability (does not create legal defenses).