Sponsors (7)
The bill improves concussion recognition, trained-school responses, and academic recovery supports for students and pushes states toward consistent standards — but it does so at the cost of potential ESEA funding penalties, new administrative and training expenses, access hurdles for underserved students, and increased implementation and liability burdens on schools and states.
Students (and their families) will gain better concussion recognition and on-site safety because schools must post CDC-consistent information and train coaches, nurses, trainers, and teachers on prevention, recognition, and response.
Students with suspected or diagnosed concussions will receive coordinated academic supports (progressive accommodations, cognitive rest, a recovery overseer) and be evaluated for IDEA Part B or Section 504 eligibility to help them stay in school and succeed academically.
Schools and LEAs get clearer operational definitions and role guidance (which activities and personnel the law covers) and the federal law creates incentives for states to adopt uniform concussion-safety standards, helping align implementation across districts.
States that miss the compliance deadline risk losing 5–10% of ESEA formula funding, potentially reducing resources for schools and affecting many students statewide.
States, school districts, and LEAs will incur new administrative, training, and implementation costs (developing plans, hiring/assigning recovery overseers, posting materials, training staff), which could strain local budgets if not separately funded.
Requiring a written medical release from a health care professional before returning to athletics could create out-of-pocket costs or access barriers for students (especially low-income or rural) who have limited access to clinicians.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Conditions ESEA funds on States adopting minimum concussion-safety rules and requires LEAs to implement concussion management plans, training, written materials, and recovery supports.
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 receive Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds to adopt minimum concussion-safety requirements within five full fiscal years if they do not already meet the standards. Those State rules must require each local educational agency to create and implement a concussion safety and management plan that includes training, written forms and materials, and supports for students recovering from concussions. Defines covered terms (including "concussion," "health care professional," "local educational agency," and "school-sponsored athletic activity"), preserves existing civil and criminal liability, and promotes posting and public dissemination of CDC-consistent concussion information at each public elementary and secondary school.