Bill
S 260
The act requires TSA to issue and periodically update hygienic guidance to minimize contamination of breast milk, formula, infant liquids, juices, and cooling items during screenin
Status (key actions)
- Introduced Jan 27, 2025 (Sen. Tammy Duckworth, with Sens. Daines, Cruz, Hirono as cosponsors).
- Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Report No. 119‑19) on May 6, 2025.
- Passed the Senate by unanimous consent on May 14, 2025; received in the House May 15, 2025; passed the House under suspension of the rules by voice vote on Nov 17, 2025. (At time of this report the bill had passed both chambers; signature by the President would be the remaining step to become law.)
Purpose and intent
- To reduce the risk that breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, juice, and associated cooling accessories are contaminated during aviation security re‑screening or additional screening, and to ensure hygienic handling by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel and private contractors who perform screening.
Key provisions
- New guidance requirement: TSA Administrator must issue or update guidance no later than 90 days after enactment and thereafter at least every 5 years (if appropriate) to minimize contamination risk for:
- breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, juice;
- cooling items and accessories (ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, etc.) used to keep those items cold.
- Consultation: Guidance must be developed in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations.
- Hygienic standards: The guidance must ensure adherence to hygienic standards (established by TSA, in consultation with maternal health organizations) and require that any additional testing performed during re‑screening also follow those standards.
- Coverage: The requirements apply to TSA screening personnel and personnel of private security companies performing screening under 49 U.S.C. § 44920.
- Inspector General audit: DHS Office of Inspector General must deliver to the House Homeland Security Committee and Senate Commerce Committee an audit within one year of enactment assessing compliance. The audit must also report on how different screening technologies (including bottled liquid scanners) affect screening of the listed items and the rate at which such items are denied entry to the sterile area (per 49 C.F.R. § 1540.5).
Who is affected / potential impacts
- Nursing parents and caregivers: reduces risk that medically necessary infant nutrition is contaminated or improperly denied entry through checkpoints.
- Infants: better protection of nutrition safety during air travel.
- TSA and private screening contractors: new procedural and training obligations to adopt hygienic handling standards and consult maternal health experts.
- Airports and airlines: operational impacts to checkpoint procedures, potential training and oversight changes.
- Oversight bodies: DHS OIG will undertake an audit and report to Congress within one year.
Context and rationale
- Builds on the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (P.L. 114‑293), which exempted infant liquids from the TSA 3‑1‑1 rule. The bill responds to reports that screening practices (e.g., wipe tests or other handling) have sometimes contaminated infant feeding items or caused improper delays/denials.
Implementation timeline (if enacted)
- TSA guidance: within 90 days of enactment; updated at least every 5 years thereafter (as appropriate).
- DHS OIG audit report: within 1 year of enactment.
Related/ancillary information
- House companion/related measures and prior session versions are noted in committee records. The Senate report accompanying S. 260 indicates it includes a Congressional Budget Office cost estimate (not reproduced here).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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