Congress Passed Bill Renewing Tick Disease Research
The legislation extends federal support for tracking and combating tick-borne illnesses through 2030.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in COVID-19
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Congress has presented the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act to President Donald Trump for his signature. If enacted, the bill will extend federal funding for tick-borne disease research and state surveillance programs through fiscal 2030.
Why it matters
This legislation maintains the federal infrastructure required to study and respond to tick-borne health threats nationwide. The renewal ensures that state health departments and researchers can continue authorized surveillance and disease-combating strategies without an interruption in funding.
The bill passed by Congress is a reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act originally enacted in 2019. It received bipartisan support from 24 senators, including 15 Democrats, eight Republicans, and one independent.
The players
President Donald Trump
The current President of the United States.
The details
The original 2019 act provided a framework for centralized research, public surveillance, and support for state-level health department initiatives. By reauthorizing these programs, the bill maintains federal authority to coordinate multi-state efforts against pathogens transmitted by ticks. The bill reached the President after passing through both chambers of Congress, and it will become law by October 10 if no action is taken.
Timeline
The original Kay Hagan Tick Act was enacted in 2019.
Previous funding authorization for the programs expired on September 30, 2025.
Congress presented the reauthorization bill to President Donald Trump on September 30, 2026.
The legislation becomes law on October 10, 2026, if the President takes no action.
The extended program funding authorization period runs through fiscal 2030.
Health Landscape
This legislation serves as a direct extension of the 2019 Kay Hagan Tick Act, which established the first dedicated federal framework for addressing tick-borne illness. It ensures that the current public health strategy for tick surveillance remains consistent with the standards established nearly a decade ago.
This reauthorization ensures that state-level public health departments across the country continue to receive the data and resources necessary to track local tick-borne threats. If you have concerns about the specific prevalence of tick-borne diseases in your area, consider speaking with your doctor or visiting your local health department website.
The takeaway
The federal commitment to funding tick-borne disease surveillance remains active through 2030 under this legislation. Residents in high-risk areas should continue to prioritize tick prevention habits, such as performing regular skin checks and wearing appropriate clothing when spending time outdoors.
Further reading
For broader context on how federal disease surveillance programs operate, see our resources on COVID-19.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Laredo Morning Times.
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Should the federal government continue funding specialized programs for tick-borne disease research?
