SB 194 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING CARDIAC SCREENING AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES.

SB 194 requires cardiac screening for student athletes participating in high-intensity sports like football, basketball, and soccer. Starting July 1, 2027, schools must provide parents with a screening form asking about chest pain, fainting, or family history of sudden cardiac death. Students reporting these risk factors must get an EKG test and doctor's written clearance before participating. The bill also mandates schools to implement a cardiac awareness program for athletes and coaches, outlining warning signs and medical response protocols, with parent consent forms distributed annually. This directly affects student athletes in specified sports and their families through new health screening and education requirements.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with significant substantive changes. The original version focused exclusively on cardiac screening for student athletes in high-intensity sports, while the new version expands requirements to include comprehensive health assessments for all public school students in grades 6-10 and adds specific athletics screenings for grades 9-12 starting in 2027.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from targeting only high-risk student athletes to requiring health assessments for all public school students in specific grade levels, while retaining and clarifying the cardiac screening requirement for athletes.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the repealed Section 10-149f (cardiac screening only) with new Section 10-206, which mandates broad health assessments for all students in grades 6-10 and specific athletics assessments for grades 9-12.

Added detailed requirements for physical exams including lead poisoning tests, tuberculosis screening, and sickle cell anemia testing for all enrolled students.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for the new cardiac screening requirements from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2027, and updated the general health assessment requirements to apply to grades 6-10.

DEFINITION

Removed the specific definition of 'high-intensity endurance or power sport' and the detailed list of sports (football, basketball, etc.) that were part of the original cardiac screening mandate.

ELIGIBILITY

Established that all public school students must undergo health assessments in grades 6-10, regardless of athletic participation.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

upper

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors