U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Illnesses Passes the Senate Unanimously

Most recent data shows Minnesota saw 3,551 cases in 2024 alone

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tina Smith announced the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the Senate unanimously. The bill will expand research, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

"Minnesota is proud to have more than 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers for us to enjoy, and we're always especially eager to get outside after a long winter," said Sen. Smith. "Unfortunately, the number of Lyme disease cases in the state-and states across the country-is on the rise. This bill would step up regional efforts at researching, testing and treating Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. We must cut down on tick-borne illnesses and for the sake of Americans' health and well-being, we need to keep moving this bill forward."

The bill, co-led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), was named in honor of former Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away on October 28, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne disease Powassan virus.

Over the past two decades, Minnesota has experienced a significant rise in tick-borne diseases. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Lyme disease remains the state's most commonly reported tick-borne illness, with 3,551 probable cases reported in 2024. In the same year, Minnesota also reported hundreds of cases of other tickborne diseases: 627 cases of anaplasmosis, 89 cases of babesiosis and 14 cases of Powassan virus disease.

Using a three-pronged approach, The Kay Hagan Tick Act will:

1. Continue implementation and updates of the Department of Health and Human Services' National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This would support ongoing federal efforts to advance research, improve diagnostics, and strengthen coordination on vector-borne diseases.

1. Reauthorize the Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years. These centers support critical research, surveillance and public health efforts to address tick-borne diseases and other vector-borne threats.

1. Reauthorize CDC grants to state health departments to strengthen vector-borne disease prevention and response efforts. These grants would support surveillance, early detection and diagnosis, treatment efforts, public education, and partnerships to address Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases.

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