Marcus’s Law
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Universal cardiac screening for high school athletes. This bill would require every student in grades 9–12 to get an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram before their first high school athletic contest, with screening offered through school partnerships for $20 or less per student.
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- Families and students: Students must receive both an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram before first participating in any high school athletic contest. Screenings must occur between the first day of the school year when the student enters grade 9 and the day before first participation.
- Local educational agencies: Schools that receive federal funds must partner with a public or private provider to offer screenings at $20 or less per student by the first day of the first sports season after enactment. If a school cannot secure a partnership for a season it must document its attempts and may get a waiver for that season.
- Exemptions and medical limits: Schools may not require the screening for students with religious objections or for students who provide a physician's note explaining why they should not participate.
- Federal role: The Secretary reviews schools' documentation and decides whether a school's attempts to secure a partnership are sufficient when seeking a waiver.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Cardiac screening for high school athletes
If enacted, this bill would require students in grades 9–12 to get medical screening before their first school athletic contest. The screening would include an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. The screening window would run from the first day of the school year the student enters grade 9 until the day before first participation. LEAs that receive applicable federal funds would need partnerships to offer screenings for $20 or less per student by the first sports season after enactment. An LEA that cannot secure a partnership for a season could submit its attempts to the Secretary for a seasonal waiver. Students would be exempt if a physician documents they should not be screened or if the screening conflicts with their religious tenets.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov