This bill creates a new program to help people identify ticks and reduce tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. Here's how it works: the federal government will give grants to states to set up tick identification programs where people can submit photos of ticks they've found. When someone uploads a photo, they also provide information about where and when they found the tick. A qualified biologist then reviews the photo and responds within 72 hours with information about what type of tick it is, whether it might carry disease, and what the person should do next—like whether to see a doctor or get the tick tested. The program also keeps a database of all reported ticks to track where different tick species are found and what diseases they might carry.

The bill prioritizes funding for states that have higher rates of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses and have a solid plan to run the program. States have to apply for the grants and explain how they'll manage the program. The federal government will collect data from all participating states and report back to Congress every year about how many ticks were reported, where they were found, and what information was shared with people. This is designed as a pilot program that will run through 2029, giving the government time to see if this approach helps people avoid tick bites and catch tick-borne diseases earlier.