Sponsor
Richard Joseph Durbin
Senator · D-IL
Senator · D-IL
Requires States receiving federal K–12 funds to ensure LEAs adopt minimum concussion safety and management standards, education, training, posting of info, and recovery plans within five fiscal years.
Official title: Promote minimum State requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions caused by participation in school sports, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 18, 2025 by Richard Joseph Durbin · Last progress September 18, 2025
The bill raises baseline, standardized protections and clearer procedures to reduce concussion harm and improve academic support, but it shifts measurable compliance, staffing, and financial burdens onto states, districts, families, and underserved communities — with the threat of federal funding loss as the principal enforcement tool.
Students (K–12) will be covered by a uniform, school-focused concussion protocol — standardized education, day-of removal, and required medical clearance from an appropriately licensed provider — improving recognition, reducing risky return-to-play decisions, and lowering risk of repeat injury.
Students with prolonged post-concussion symptoms will be routed to educational supports (evaluation for IDEA/Section 504, progressive academic accommodations, and multidisciplinary concussion-management teams), increasing access to special education services and smoothing academic recovery.
Parents, school staff, and local education agencies will have clearer reporting forms, treatment documentation, and statutory definitions (which activities and staff are covered), helping consistent implementation and better home–school communication after injuries.
States that do not meet the new standards risk losing 5–10% of federal ESEA funds, a large financial penalty that could significantly reduce resources for schools and programs statewide.
Requiring written medical clearance and a narrow statutory definition of who counts as an authorized 'health care professional' may delay students' return to athletics and impose time and out-of-pocket costs on families — and could create clearance shortages in rural or underserved areas.
Local school districts and LEAs will face new administrative, training, compliance, and potential liability costs to develop concussion plans, train personnel, post/distribute materials, and align policies with statutory definitions.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires every State that receives federal K–12 education funds to make sure local school districts adopt and implement minimum concussion safety and management rules within five full fiscal years after the law is enacted. Schools must educate students, parents, and staff; train coaches, teachers, athletic trainers, school nurses and related services personnel; post concussion information publicly and online; use standard return-to-play and reporting forms; and encourage multidisciplinary recovery teams and academic accommodations, including referrals for IDEA or Section 504 evaluation when symptoms persist.