This bill would reauthorize and update federal traumatic brain injury, or TBI, programs through 2030. It broadens CDC surveillance and registry work to look not just at incidence, but also prevalence, causes, risk factors, higher-risk populations, and related mental health conditions. It also extends state grant programs, adds maintenance-of-effort and waiver rules, and requires two new HHS reports within 2 years. The bill does not set a new dollar amount, but it updates program authorities and funding periods in the Public Health Service Act.
What This Bill Does
- Extends TBI-related authorization periods from 2020-2024 to 2026-2030.
- Expands CDC surveillance to track prevalence, higher-risk populations, causes, and risk factors.
- Requires CDC to publish aggregated TBI and concussion information on its website.
- Keeps state TBI grant programs active through 2030 and adds maintenance-of-effort rules.
- Directs HHS to deliver two reports within 2 years on high-risk groups and long-term TBI effects.
Who This Bill Affects
For a typical person, this bill would mostly matter indirectly through stronger federal TBI surveillance, more public CDC information, and continued state grant support for prevention and advocacy programs through 2030. If you or someone in your family has had a concussion or traumatic brain injury, the bill could improve public data, outreach, and research on long-term effects, including possible links to dementia and mental health conditions. For states and American Indian consortia, it adds a non-Federal maintenance-of-effort rule and keeps matching-fund rules in place, with limited waiver flexibility.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Public health researchers They would likely support the bill because it expands surveillance beyond basic incidence data to include prevalence, causes, risk factors, and short- and long-term outcomes. Better data can improve prevention strategies and research into chronic effects such as dementia and mental health conditions.
- State health agencies and TBI grant recipients They benefit from continued authorization of state grant programs through 2030 and clearer federal guidance on allowable activities, including outreach to higher-risk populations. The waiver authority on matching funds may also help states that struggle to meet the full match.
- Families, clinicians, and advocates for people with brain injuries They may support the bill because it requires public availability of aggregated CDC information and a study on long-term symptoms. That can help families find resources and encourage better recognition of chronic TBI-related conditions.
- State and local governments with tight budgets They may object to the maintenance-of-effort requirement, which forces non-Federal spending to stay at least at the prior-year level for grant-funded activities. Even with a partial waiver, that can be difficult in lean budget years.
- Small providers and advocacy organizations They may worry that the bill adds reporting, data collection, and coordination burdens without creating a large new funding stream. More detailed surveillance can help policy, but it can also mean more administrative work for organizations that already operate with limited staff.
- Taxpayers concerned about program expansion They may support TBI prevention in principle but question whether reauthorizing and broadening multiple federal programs through 2030 will produce measurable results. The bill expands federal roles in data collection, public reporting, and studies, which can increase ongoing administrative costs.
Key Implications
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““including populations whose increased risk is due to occupational or circumstantial factors””
CDC surveillance would be expected to look more closely at people whose jobs or situations raise their TBI risk, such as some workers or public safety personnel. That can improve prevention, but it also means the federal data system becomes more detailed and more targeted.
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““make publicly available aggregated information on traumatic brain injury and concussion””
The CDC would have to publish summarized TBI and concussion information online. For the public, that means easier access to federal data and prevention guidance; for agencies, it adds a continuing reporting obligation.
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““maintain expenditures of non-Federal amounts… at a level… not less than””
States and American Indian consortia receiving grants would need to keep their own spending from dropping below the previous year’s level. This protects baseline state investment, but it may be hard for jurisdictions facing budget cuts.
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““waive not more than 50 percent of the matching fund amount””
HHS could partially ease the state match requirement when full matching would prevent a grant from being used. That gives flexibility, but only up to half the required match and only for the year involved.
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““conduct… a study to… examine the incidence and prevalence of long-term or chronic symptoms””
HHS would have to study chronic TBI symptoms, services, and research gaps. The practical effect is more evidence on what happens after the initial injury, which could shape future care and policy.
Official Source & Bill Facts
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- Bill
- HR 1493
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- To reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and for other purposes.
- Policy area
- Healthcare
- Latest action
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 625. (July 2, 2026)
- Last updated
- July 10, 2026
Latest Status
July 2, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 625.
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