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CIVIC HERALD
S 494 · 119th Congress · SenateOther

National Plan for Epilepsy Act

In plain language: This legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create and maintain a national plan to coordinate epilepsy research, prevention, and medical care across all federal agencies. It establishes an advisory council of patients, family caregivers, medical experts, and agency officials to assess federal programs, track government spending, and recommend ways to expand treatment access. The bill also requires federal agencies to share epilepsy data and submit annual progress reports to Congress through 2035 to address disparities in care and reduce seizure-related deaths.

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

Provisionalunreviewed: impact, issue tags, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affectedWhile congressional findings cite approximately 3,456,000 adults and children with epilepsy in the United States, the operative provisions govern federal agency coordination, reporting, and advisory council operations rather than establishing direct individual benefit or regulatory counts.
Fiscal magnitudeno CBO estimate published
Reach20provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
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Issues

What this bill touches.

Public R&D+20Role of government+22

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Who it helps

  • Individuals living with epilepsy and family caregiversReceive formal federal coordination of research, care, and early diagnosis programs under the National Plan, alongside dedicated advisory seats on the federal Advisory Council. (Sec. 3(320C)(a)(2), Sec. 3(320C)(c)(2)(B))provisional
  • Epilepsy researchers, medical providers, and nonprofit organizationsGain designated representation on the federal Advisory Council, coordinated federal research priorities, and participation in recurring biennial inter-organizational epilepsy research meetings. (Sec. 3(320C)(a)(2)(C), Sec. 3(320C)(c)(2)(B), Sec. 3(320C)(c)(3)(B))provisional

Who it burdens

  • Department of Health and Human ServicesDirects the Secretary to establish and manage a National Plan for Epilepsy, convene an Advisory Council, conduct annual progress evaluations, and submit annual reports to Congress through 2035. (Sec. 3(320C)(a)-(d))provisional
  • Federal agencies with epilepsy-related dataRequires federal departments and agencies inside and outside HHS that possess epilepsy data to share that data with the Secretary to support national reporting and planning. (Sec. 3(320C)(e))provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

  1. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a National Plan for Epilepsy through 2035 to coordinate federal research, advance treatments and cures, and improve early diagnosis and patient care.

    Sec. 3(320C)(a)provisional
  2. Establishes a federal Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services that includes federal health officials, individuals living with epilepsy, family caregivers, medical providers, researchers, and nonprofit representatives.

    Sec. 3(320C)(c)(1)-(2)provisional
  3. Directs the Advisory Council to submit a report every two years to Congress and the Secretary evaluating federal epilepsy efforts and recommending actions to improve care, reduce costs for families, and expand research.

    Sec. 3(320C)(c)(4)provisional
  4. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress evaluating federal epilepsy programs and detailing progress on the national plan.

    Sec. 3(320C)(d)provisional
  5. Requires federal agencies across the government to share epilepsy-related data with the Secretary to support national reporting and planning efforts.

    Sec. 3(320C)(e)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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Timeline

How it moved.

  1. Aug 10, 2026Held at the desk.
  2. Aug 4, 2026Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4426-4427; text: CR S4426-4427)
  3. Aug 4, 2026Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  4. Jul 28, 2026Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  5. Jul 28, 2026Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  6. Jul 22, 2026Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  7. Feb 10, 2025Introduced in Senate

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 17 days ago

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