This bill would require all states to implement concussion safety protocols in school sports, including educating students and staff, providing supports for recovering students, and ensuring proper medical clearance before returning to play. The goal is to better protect student athletes from the dangers of concussions.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would require all states to implement concussion safety protocols in school sports, including educating students and staff, providing supports for recovering students, and ensuring proper medical clearance before returning to play. The goal is to better protect student athletes from the dangers of concussions.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><b>Protecting Student Athletes From Concussions Act</b></p> <p>This bill conditions each state's receipt of federal funds, beginning in FY2025, on the state's enforcement of specified minimum requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions in school-sponsored athletics and activities.</p> <p>Each local educational agency must develop and implement a standard plan for concussion safety and management that includes (1) the education of students, parents, and school personnel about concussions; (2) specified supports for each student recovering from a concussion; and (3) best practices designed to ensure the uniformity of safety standards, treatment, and management. </p> <p>Each public school must post on school grounds and publish on the school website specified information about concussions. </p> <p>If any public school personnel suspects that a student has sustained a concussion during a school-sponsored activity, the student must be immediately removed from participation in that activity and prohibited from participating in school-sponsored athletic activities until the student submits a written release from a health care professional. Furthermore, the school personnel must report all available information regarding the injury to a concussion management team that will confirm and report details of the injury to the student's parents.</p> <p>The school's concussion management team shall consult with and make recommendations to relevant school personnel and the student to ensure that the student is receiving the appropriate academic supports.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Conditions federal education funding on states enforcing concussion safety requirements for school sports and activities
Requires schools to educate students, parents, and staff about concussions and implement plans for identifying, treating, and managing concussions
Students suspected of having a concussion must be immediately removed from play and can't return until cleared by a medical professional
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would impact all public schools across the country, requiring them to implement new concussion protocols and reporting procedures. It would help ensure student athletes receive proper medical care and supports to recover from concussions, better protecting their health and safety.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5704, 119th Congress (2025). "Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5704
