Tick Identification Pilot Program Act of 2025

This bill would set up a pilot program so states can get CDC grants to help people quickly identify ticks they find. States with higher rates of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases would be first in line for funding, especially if they have a solid plan to run the program. The program must let people upload tick photos online and get a direct response from a trained biologist within 72 hours. That reply should identify the tick if possible, estimate disease risk, give advice on what to do next (like seeing a doctor or sending the tick for testing), and share tips to prevent bites in the future.

Each program must also keep a database of tick reports, including where and when the tick was found and what guidance was shared. The federal health department would collect this data each year and send reports to Congress for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. A “qualified professional” is defined as a biologist with training in vector biology.

Key points

• Who is affected: State health agencies; anyone who encounters ticks (people and pet owners).
• What changes: States can apply for CDC grants to run an online tick photo-ID service with 72-hour expert responses, prevention education, and a public health database of reports.
• When: Annual federal reports would cover fiscal years 2026–2029.