Newport representative reintroduces bill to screen student athletes for heart conditions

Representative Carson presented a reworked version of a bill (HB 7480) aimed at reducing sudden cardiac deaths among student athletes by strengthening cardiovascular checks at school health exams and requiring schools to receive notice about a student's heart‑health status. Carson said the bill was shortened after feedback on a prior, larger draft and that it was modeled in part on a New Jersey law; he referenced online testimony from a Newport resident, Matt Grant, who has personal experience with the condition.

Why it matters: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other undiagnosed cardiac conditions are cited by the sponsor and witnesses as rare but catastrophic when they occur during athletic participation. The bill would affect school health protocols, athletic clearance processes and parent notification requirements.

Questions and concerns: Witness Tim Duffy and other committee members raised two practical issues: whether the health-care system has capacity to perform additional screenings for all high-school athletes and the potential fiscal implications. Carson and the sponsor signaled willingness to convene pediatric and RIDE stakeholders via Zoom to work through clinical and logistical concerns before the committee advances the bill.

What’s next: The sponsor will coordinate follow-up meetings with pediatric experts and the Department of Education; the committee held the bill for further study per the procedural motion.