Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed a new bill into law that aims to support students who suffer from seizures in school.
The bill, known as LD 2040, requires that each school in the state create a seizure action plan for students who are diagnosed with a seizure disorder like epilepsy.
This plan will be written with help from the student’s parent or guardian and their healthcare provider. It will explain what steps teachers and school staff should follow if the student has a seizure during school hours. The goal is to make sure the student gets help quickly and safely.
The new law also makes it mandatory for school staff who have regular contact with the student to get basic training in seizure first aid. This includes knowing how to recognize different types of seizures and how to respond appropriately without causing harm.
Gov. Mills signed the bill after hearing from families and advocates who said students with epilepsy often feel unsafe or unsupported in school.
Many schools don’t have a clear plan for what to do during a seizure, which can be dangerous for students and stressful for teachers.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Tipping and received strong support from both lawmakers and health organizations. Groups like the Epilepsy Foundation praised the decision, calling it a big step forward for student health and safety in Maine.
With this new law, Maine joins other states in making seizure action plans a standard part of school health care. It’s expected to help hundreds of students and give parents peace of mind knowing their child’s medical needs will be taken seriously in school.
The law will go into effect for the 2025–2026 school year. Schools are now preparing to set up training and build systems to meet the new requirements.