Florida legislature first in nation to pass bill requiring EKG testing for student athletes
By Tobie Nell Perkins and Heather Crawford
Senate Bill 1070, which would mandate cardiac tests for student athletes in Florida, is headed to the governor's desk.
The bill would require the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws that require electrocardiograms (EKG) for all students participating, or seeking to participate in, interscholastic sports. Florida would be the first state to implement a measure like this one.
If signed into law, it will require EKGs for students who are participating in interscholastic athletic competitions, as well "practices, tryouts, workouts, conditioning or physical activity." This would be a requirement for each student participating in these events for the first time.
This law will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, provided Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it.
The bill directs the FHSAA to develop a form that students can fill out to request exceptions. One example given in the text is exception for religious reasons.
It also says FHSAA member schools will have to collaborate with public and private entities to offer low-cost or free electrocardiogram screenings for this purpose.
“This is a major step in advancing the standard of care in the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in our kids and especially athletes," said Shawn Sima, the Impact Director for non-profit called Who We Play For. The organization has been offering low-cost EKGs for the past ten years. The organization says it will likely play a "major role" in bringing this to Florida school districts.
Sima is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. His daughter, Lexi, survived a sudden cardiac arrest. He believes this law can help save students like her. "This is the number one cause of death in athletics in our children," he said. "The studies show that the current history and physical is not all that great and preventing our children from suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Although cardiac emergency response plans, AED‘s and awareness are so important, equally important would be preventing the event in the first place with much better screening than our current standard. That is what this law can do.”
Robert Sefcik, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, says he believes this law will be life-saving.