States where CPR Training is Mandatory for High School Graduation

There is a growing trend as more and more states are recognizing that CPR is not only an extremely valuable skill, but should also be made mandatory for students to learn before they can graduate from high school. There are bills in many states that are in various stages of implementation. Bring the free CPR program to your school Want your school to take part in the Student CPR program? Submit Your School!

States where CPR training is mandatory for high school graduation:

1. Alabama (Acts 1983, No. 83-510, p. 719, §§1-4.)
2. Arizona (SB 1137)
3. Arkansas (Act 1016 – Approved April 8, 2013)
4. California (AB 1719 – Approved September 24, 2016)
5. Connecticut (Bill No. 962 – Signed June 23, 2015)
6. Delaware (Title 14 Education 1.1.3.4 – Effective no later than 2015-2016 school year – also HB 249 – Class of 2017)
7. District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) – (D.c. ACT 21-488 – Signed August 18, 2016)
8. Florida – (CS/HB 157 – Signed June 21, 2021, Effective July 1, 2021)
9. Georgia (SB 212, HB 217)
10. Idaho (State DOE 08-0203-1306)
11. Illinois (HB3724 – Lauren Laman Bill became law June 5, 2014 when Governor Pat Quinn signed Public Act 098-0632, effective July 1, 2014) *
12. Indiana (HEA 1290 – Signed March 31, 2014) **
13. Iowa (SF 2425 “Healthy Kids Act”)
14. Kansas (Kansas State Department of Education, Effective 2018-2019)
15. Kentucky (SB33 – Signed April 9, 2016)
16. Louisiana (HB 542 – Signed June 6, 2014)
17. Maine (HP0380 – Approved June 4, 2015)
18. Maryland (SB 503 “Breanna’s Law” – Signed April 14, 2014)
19. Michigan (SB 647 Signed on December 28, 2016)
20. Minnesota (HF 2506 – Signed April 23, 2012)
21. Mississippi (HB 432 – Signed March 31, 2014)
22. Missouri (SB 711 – Effective 2017-2018)
23. Montana (SB 135 – Signed April 13, 2017)
24. Nevada (AB 414 – Signed June 5, 2013, AB 85 – Effective July 1, 2017)
25. New Jersey (A 2072 – Approved August 20, 2014)
26. New Mexico (SB 1 and HB 104 – Signed March 2, 2016, effective 2017-2018)
27. New York (Effective October 7, 2015)
28. North Carolina (HB 837 – Signed July 26, 2012)
29. Ohio (GA 131 – HB113, effective 2017-2018)
30. Oklahoma (HB 1378 “Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR Training Act”- Signed May 16, 2014)
31. Oregon (SB 79 – Effective 2015-2016)
32. Pennsylvania (2019 Act 7)
33. Rhode Island (SB 318, HB 5376 – Approved June 24, 2013)
34. South Carolina (H 3265 – Signed on April 21, 2016, effective 2017-2018)
35. South Dakota (SB 140 – Approved March 10, 2017)
36. Tennessee (HB 2086 – Enacted in 2002; HB 1519, SB 1680 “Carmen Burnette Act of 2012” – Signed March 13, 2012)
37. Texas (HB 897 – Signed June 14, 2013)
38. Utah (State DOE – Effective 2014-2015 school year)
39. Vermont (S 245 – Approved May 16, 2012)
40. Virginia (HB 2028, SB 986 – Approved March 18, 2013)
41. Washington (HB 1556 – Approved May 8, 2013; Effective date July 28, 2013)
42. West Virginia (Approved Feb. 24, 2015)
43. Wisconsin (AB 725, more – Signed May 10, 2010; Effective beginning with 2011-2012 school year)

* In Illinois, this law requires mandatory CPR/AED training in all Illinois high schools prior to graduation, excluding when a parent or guardian submits written objection to CPR/AED training..
** In Indiana, students are required to take the training, but schools can get waivers to opt-out. (Indiana: We offer it for free, don’t opt out!)

Other recent CPR related laws.

1. Colorado (HB 14-1276 – Signed May 16, 2014) **
2. North Dakota (SB 2238 – Approved April 18, 2013) ***

** Colorado passed with a recommendation for CPR training, but training is not yet mandatory.
*** In North Dakota, state funding for CPR training is available, but training is not yet mandatory.
**** Although it may already mandatory in South Dakota, another bill would also allow for Hands-Only.

Known states where bills have been introduced (as of March 15, 2023):

1. Alaska (SB 43 – If passes, effective June 30, 2024)
2. Hawaii (2013 Bill introduced. SCR 174, HCR 108 – Hands-Only CPR)
3. Massachusetts (H.492 – Referred to Joint Committee on Education)

States where we haven’t found any bills relating to CPR in High Schools. Or where there were bills, but were not passed and no new bills have yet been proposed. (Last updated March 15, 2023)

1. Nebraska (LB 365, LR 512 indefinitely postponed)
2. New Hampshire (SB 523, 2018 – bill killed)
3. Wyoming (SF 82 failed in 2017)

Help us keep up-to-date on state CPR laws!

If we’re missing any states where bills are being introduced, please let us know with this form:

Bring the Free CPR training to your school

Want your school to take part in the Student CPR program? Submit Your School!