HB 2042 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of November 9, 2011 (P.L.441, No.101), known as the Safety in Youth Sports Act, further providing for definitions and for the prevention of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

HB 2042 amends the existing Safety in Youth Sports Act to update definitions related to concussions and improve prevention measures for traumatic brain injuries in youth sports. It directly affects youth athletes, coaches, and sports organizations by requiring clearer guidelines for identifying and managing head injuries. Key provisions include revising terminology for consistency and strengthening protocols for concussion prevention and response. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to enhance safety standards under the current law. It was recently referred to the Health committee for further review.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 18, 2025 Last action May 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2854 Printer's No. PN3205 · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand its applicability to include official recreational athletic events, not just school-sponsored activities. New definitions were added to clarify what constitutes an 'official recreational athletic event' and a 'sponsoring organization.' Additionally, the act now requires sponsoring organizations to adopt a concussion return-to-learn protocol approved by the Department of Health and allows local governments to require compliance with the bill's informational meeting requirements as a condition for renting facilities.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from school entities and interscholastic activities to include official recreational athletic events and sponsoring organizations, and it now applies to counties, municipalities, and municipal authorities that lease facilities to these organizations.
SCOPE

Added 'official recreational athletic event' to the list of activities covered by the concussion management standards.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'official recreational athletic event' and 'sponsoring organization' to clarify which non-school groups must comply.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the informational meeting requirement from optional ('may hold') to mandatory ('subject to subsection (g.1) must hold') for sponsoring organizations.

Added a new requirement for sponsoring organizations to adopt a concussion return-to-learn protocol approved by the Department of Health.

Updated the medical clearance requirement to allow the governing body of a sponsoring organization to designate specific medical professionals for clearing athletes to return to play.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for counties, municipalities, and municipal authorities to require compliance with the bill's provisions, including holding informational meetings, as a condition for renting playing fields or recreational facilities.

Floor votes · House Apr 27, 2026

How they voted

12179
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 201
Apr 27, 2026
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican99
19 Yea 79 Nay 1
79% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 1, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health
lower
1 primary · 17 co-sponsors

Sponsors