SB 206 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

HEALTH SERVICES: Provides for blood pressure testing in schools. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

SB 206 requires all Louisiana public school districts to conduct blood pressure screenings for students during the first semester or within 30 days of enrollment, following the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended schedule. School boards must document results, follow up on abnormal readings within 60 days, and notify parents in writing if issues are found. This applies to public schools but exempts charter schools from the blood pressure screening requirement specifically (while they still follow other health screening rules). The bill aims to identify hypertension early in students through standardized school-based testing.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB206 Original → SB206 Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces a general requirement for schools to test all students' blood pressure with a specific mandate for student athletes to undergo cardiovascular prescreening. The new law requires qualified healthcare professionals to use evidence-based guidelines from major medical organizations to screen athletes before they participate in sports, ensuring higher safety standards for physical activity.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of the requirement from all public school students to only student athletes, while simultaneously raising the standard for testing from a general schedule to specific evidence-based cardiovascular guidelines.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the testing requirement from a general blood pressure check for all students to a specific cardiovascular prescreening for student athletes.

Added a mandate for healthcare professionals to use evidence-based guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, or other nationally recognized organizations.

Added a requirement to distribute educational materials about sudden cardiac arrest to parents of student athletes.

Removed the general requirement for all students to have blood pressure tested, which was previously included in the law.

TIMELINE

Established a specific start date of the 2026-2027 school year for the new cardiovascular prescreening requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2026 · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Apr 14, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.

upper

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors