Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act

S. 2294 would extend and reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, originally enacted in 2019, which addresses the growing public health threat of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. The bill uses a three-pronged approach: it would require the Department of Health and Human Services to continue implementing a National Public Health Strategy to prevent and control vector-borne diseases; reauthorize four Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease at universities for five additional years; and reauthorize grants to state and local health departments to improve data collection, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment efforts. The bill would reduce annual funding for the initial program from $10 million (fiscal years 2021-2025) to $8 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030, while extending support through 2030.

The legislation is motivated by the escalating incidence of tick-borne diseases across the country. The bill is named in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan, who died in 2019 from complications of Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease. If enacted, the bill would maintain federal infrastructure and funding for research, prevention, and public health response to tick-borne diseases, though it currently remains under committee consideration and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.